Indyplus update: Defending champion Roger Federer begins quest for eighth title in style

17-time major winner romped to victory in just one hour and eight minutes, beating Victor Hanescu 6-3 6-2 6-0

Roger Federer is through to the second round after 6-3 6-2 6-0 win over Victor Hanescu (AP)

Reigning champion Roger Federer opened up his Wimbledon defence and quest for a record eighth title by comfortably defeating Victor Hanescu..

Follow game-by-game coverage of Andy Murray's first match of Wimbledon 2013 against Benjamin Becker

Dominating from the outset on Centre Court, the Swiss never looked in danger during his first match at the All England Club since losing to Andy Murray in the final of the London 2012 Olympics.

Federer, 31, won his first Wimbledon title 10 years ago and is now looking for title number eight. The 17-time major winner romped to victory in just one hour and eight minutes, beating Hanescu, ranked 45 places beneath him at 48th in the world rankings, 6-3 6-2 6-0.

The manner of his victory will have undoubtedly pleased the reigning champion. It was always going to be a tricky afternoon for Hanescu and it got off to the worst possible start as Federer broke at the first opportunity.

It was a lead he never looked like relinquishing, dominating without pushing himself too hard.

The Romanian tried his utmost but paid for his failure to break Federer, who conceded just one point on serve as he took the first set in just 24 minutes.

The second set began very similarly to the first, with the Swiss breaking in the first game after the restart.

Federer, who recently won the Halle warm-up event, was nowhere near his supreme best but was still playing some wonderful shots, controlling proceedings with ease.

Hanescu was unable to cope and was broken again leaving him 3-0 down.

The Romanian showed little resistance and could do nothing to prevent Federer running through the set.

Federer again broke at the start of the third set and never looked back.

"The longer the match, the longer you spend on Centre Court - it's not a bad thing," Federer said. "That's what I was thinking today. It went by very quickly.

"But I guess you'd prefer to have it this way, walk away as a winner instead of being out there for five hours and losing in the first round.

"I thought overall I played a good match, no hiccups on the serve.

"I returned well, sometimes aggressive, sometimes with the chip the way I usually do it on the grass anyway.

"Then I was moving pretty well even though I thought it was quite slippery because it is opening Monday.

"It always feels a bit slippery. I think I handled that well.

"Just a bit of a breeze, as well. It was cold. I'm happy to get out of there early and quickly so it was a perfect day."

It was always going to be a tricky afternoon for Hanescu and he got off to a dreadful start as Federer broke at the first opportunity.

Federer did the same in the second and third sets, starting aggressively like so many times before at the All England Club.

"I pack my bags anyway for five sets every single time so I'm happy that things went well out there today," Federer said.

"I mean, in the first round, we've seen the surprise losses happen too often. I was always going to give credit to Victor."

Federer will play Ukrainian world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round.

Earlier Elena Baltacha became the first Brit to bow out of Wimbledon.

Follow game-by-game coverage of Andy Murray's first match of Wimbledon 2013 against Benjamin Becker