A fan wears a Rafael Nadal mask during the match between Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and Filippo Volandri of Italy at the 2011 Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 20, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

While Williams has enjoyed the ritual of returning as defending champion many times, Nadal was experiencing it for the first and had his parents watching from the Royal Box as he won an entertaining tussle.

"Was a big emotion to be the first player to play in this fabulous court," Nadal told reporters.

"So seriously it was a very, very exciting feeling. It was fantastic to see how the court is in really perfect conditions."

The diminutive Russell has plied his trade on the lower echelons of the men's tour since 1998 and had only made the second round in 22 previous grand slam appearances.

Yet for six games the Houston-based hustler was the equal of a player with 10 grand slam titles.

Russell, ranked 90, missed a break point on Nadal's second service game but did break to lead 4-2.

Any repeat of last year's opening day thriller when six-times champion Roger Federer almost fell to Colombia's Alejandro Falla never looked likely, however, as Nadal began pounding winners past the scrambling American who delighted the 15,000 crowd with spectacular tumbles and cheeky drop shots.

It was the perfect two-hour workout for Nadal who looked revived after a brief break in Mallorca but tougher tests loom.

Canada's fast-rising 31st seed Milos Raonic, a potential third-round opponent for Nadal, fired down 25 aces to beat Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3 7-6 6-3 and Czech Tomas Berdych, runner-up last year, crushed Italy's Filippo Volandri.

Ninth seed Gael Monfils beat Germany's Matthias Bachinger in straight sets and he was joined in the second round by fellow Frenchman and former semi-finalist Richard Gasquet.

Three-times runner-up Andy Roddick got no further than the knock-up against Andreas Beck on Court One before the rain arrived but fellow American Mardy Fish, the 10th seed, got though against Spain's Marcel Granollers.

Andy Murray of Britain reacts during his match against Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 20, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Murray's test against Gimeno-Traver could hold him in good stead as he aims to become Britain's first male grand slam champion since 1936.

In front of a surprising amount of empty seats, Murray was initially caught cold by an opponent playing inspired "indoor" tennis to take the opening set.

At 3-3 in the second set the outcome of the match was still far from certain before fourth seed Murray suddenly moved up a level to produce some exhibition tennis.

"It's like almost too perfect," said Murray who romped through the final two sets in 46 minutes. "There's obviously no wind, no sun, no elements to contend with. It's a different kind of grasscourt tennis."