• Wimbledon, Day One

The return of the champion

Rafael Nadal returned to Wimbledon as defending champion © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Murray to reach boiling point in pursuit of glory
  
• News: Defending champion Nadal strolls past plucky Russell
  
• News: O'Brien toppled by Date-Krumm
  
• News: Venus cruises through Wimbledon opener
  
• News: What They Said
  
• Gallery: Wimbledon: Day One

ESPN.co.uk will be providing live scores and analysis from Wimbledon throughout the tournament.

Wimbledon Day One Gallery
Plays of the Day: Day One Men's round-up: Nadal strolls past plucky Russell
Women's round-up: Venus sails into second round
Murray powers past Gimeno-Traver

He is unbeaten at Wimbledon since 2007, but Rafael Nadal has never returned to the All England Club as champion.

Wimbledon loves its traditions, and the reigning gentlemen's singles champion has the honour of opening proceedings on Centre Court.

A knee injury denied him the chance to defend his 2008 title, but he looked every inch the champion as he kicked off the defence of his title in style.

"It was fantastic," Nadal said. "It's a very, very big emotion to come back to this beautiful court. Everything was perfect. It was fantastic to see the court in really perfect conditions. I was very happy for everything."

The acrobatic heroics of Michael Russell could not thwart the Spaniard as he strolled to a 6-4 6-2 6-2 win to set up a second-round clash with another American, Ryan Sweeting.

The Spaniard has never lost in the first round of a grand slam, and despite reaching the final in his last four appearances at the All England Club, Nadal refused to look beyond his next match.

"Let's not talk about what might happen in 12 days. I might be here or I might be home fishing in Majorca," he said.

With six-time champion Roger Federer on the surge, many people have written off the Spaniard's chances of victory, most notably Nadal himself.

Despite his astonishing 17-8 record over 16-time grand slam champion Federer, widely considered to be the greatest player to have ever graced a tennis court, Nadal insists he can only dream of eclipsing his great rival. But a third title at the All England Club would see the Spaniard claim his 11th major crown and close in on Federer's record.

With a career Grand Slam already under his belt, Nadal is bidding to equal Bjorn Borg's feat of winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year three times. It seems that at every grand slam another record tumbles, but Nadal remains inconceivably modest.

Former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe believes Nadal, still only 25, has already staked his claim to be considered the greatest player of all time.

"I'm getting a little bit tired of him continuing to downplay his chances," McEnroe said. "There is definitely an argument for him not only being the best player at the moment, but the greatest of all time.

"Rafa has won things like the Davis Cup and an Olympic [singles] gold medal that Roger Federer hasn't, and he is right on his tail in terms of grand slam titles too - so why can't he just say 'look, I'm the best'."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.