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British number two Greg Rusedski got Wimbledon 2005 off to a flying start with a four-set win over Alberto Martin.

The 31-year-old dropped the second set but soon hit back to see off his Spanish baseline opponent, Alberto Martin, in fine fashion, recording a 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-1 win out on Court Two.

Twenty aces flew from the Rusedski racket, including one at 136mph which reminded the crowd of what he is capable.

The Canadian-born Rusedski, who pledged his allegiance to Britain 10 years ago, was also good off the ground and with his volleys at the net to suggest he could make a few waves during the fortnight in SW19.

Whether he can go all the way, remains dobutful.

"Time is running out," he admitted. "I didn't think I'd be here over 30 but I'm still enjoying it, still doing the best I can. Tim (Henman) and I are not going to be here longer than five years. We're just trying to make the most of it. I think I've helped Tim because we've had that rivalry in the 90s which was good for both of us."

Next up Rusedski faces 6ft 6in Swede Joachim Johansson, the 11th seed and last year's US open semi-finalist whose huge serve is his biggest weapon.

"We will be serving pretty big," said Rusedski.

"I've just got to stay positive and aggressive. If you take a bit off, the guys these days are good enough to do a lot with them."

Meanwhile, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin all made flying starts to their title bid on the opening day.

Defending champion Federer was a straight-sets victor on Centre Court against France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, winning 6-4 6-2 6-4.

It was the Swiss star's 30th consecutive grasscourt victory, a run stretching back three years.

"I definitely feel relieved," said the 23-year-old afterwards.

"It's definitely a good start to the tournament. There's always something special when you come back and try to defend the Wimbledon championship. I'm very happy to take the very important first step."

Over on Court One, Hewitt clinched a 6-3 6-3 6-1 victory over Belgian Christophe Rochus in just 92 minutes.

Hewitt served 19 aces and admitted afterwards: "It is an area we have been working on.

"I know I am a good enough returner already to ensure enough opportunities to break if I can clean up my service and I've got more variety now.

"Those two weeks I won the tournament (in 2002) here I served extremely well - the best I've ever served but on the grass, it means so much, especially when it is as slow as now."

Later in the day Safin joined them in the last 64.

The temperamental Russian had what on paper looked one of the toughest first-round matches, against Paradorn Srichaphan.

However, Safin was in imperious form and he produced a fine display of attacking tennis to record a 6-2 6-4 6-4 triumph.

Safin, who famously said grass was "for cows" after he lost here in the first round in 2004, was happy with his performance.

"I wish I could have these kinds of matches every day. I just wish I could keep playing this same level of tennis," he said.

In the women's singles, top seed Lindsay Davenport also breezed into the second round courtesy of a comprehensive straight-sets win over Russian Alina Jidkova.

The world number one, champion here in 1999, took just 41 minutes to wrap up a 6-0 6-2 victory.

Amelie Mauresmo, seeded to be Davenport's semi-final opponent, also won easily.

The Frenchwoman proved too good for Melinda Czink, winning 6-3 6-2.

Ninth seed Anastasia Myskina stared defeat full in the face before scraping past Katerina Bohmova.

The former French Open champion appeared to be on her way out when she fell a set and 4-1 down but she fought back to seal a 5-7 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 triumph, also coming from 3-0 down in the decider.

But Patty Schnyder, seeded 10, was not so fortunate.

The Swiss was beaten 6-4 6-7(7-9) 6-3 by Italy's Antonella Serra-Zanetti.

The biggest men's upset came with 13th seed Tommy Robredo losing in straight sets to his Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco in a battle of the baseliners.

French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta also bowed out.

The 16th seed found the switch to grass too tough to handle as he crashed out to Germany's Lars Burgmuller who recorded a 6-1 6-1 6-4 victory.

As usual, British players were soon exiting the tournament on day one.

However, David Sherwood, one of the country's Davis Cup heroes from their tie in Israel earlier this year, bucked the trend with an impressive win over Brazil's Ricardo Mello.

The Yorkshireman won 6-3 6-4 6-4, beating a player more than 200 places above him in the world rankings.

Afterwards he revealed his win came despite a recent illness which had seen him lose almost a stone in weight after going down with tonsilitis earlier this month.

"I didn't eat for four days and lost close to a stone," he said. "Playing three sets helped. I don't know if I would have had the strength if it had gone to four or five.

"But I felt comfortable all week. I started off serving well, although I had a bit of nerves towards the end."

Alex Bogdanovic, Jamie Delgado, Josh Goodall and Alan Mackin did bow out though, while in the women's event, British number one Elena Baltacha also made her exit.

Put on Centre Court late in the day, Baltacha lost 6-3 6-2 to Germany's Sabine Klaschka, a player 51 places below her in the world rankings.

Earlier Anne Keothavong had lost in straight sets to Argentina's Mariana Diaz-Oliva.

And she was joined through the exit door by Rebecca Llewellyn, humbled 6-0 6-1 by US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Sarah Borwell, beaten in straight sets by Shenay Perry.

Late in the day, Katie O'Brien also made her exit, although it was no disgrace losing 6-2 6-3 to last week's Eastbourne champion Kim Clijsters, a former world number one.

Of the lower seeds, US Open runner-up Elena Dementieva (6) and French open semi-finalist Elena Likhovtseva (13) had few problems.

But several did fall.

The Japanese duo of Ai Sugiyama (23) and Shinobu Asagoe (24) bowed out, while Amy Frazier (28) lost a final-set decider to Mashona Washington, sister of former men's finalist MaliVai.

Another surprise was the fall of 25th seed Karolina Sprem.

The Croatian stunned Venus Williams at last year's tournament but won't be causing any shocks this time around as she was well beaten at the first hurdle by Thailand's grass-loving Tamarine Tanasugarn.

In the men's, Nikolay Davydenko (8) went through with few problems, as did last year's semi-finalist Mario Ancic (10).