Mauresmo bears out top billing in show of power

Mauresmo, three times a semi-finalist here, could have been forgiven for taking her placement on No 2 Court, the so-called "graveyard of champions", as a snub by the tournament organisers. The 26-year-old, though, did not let it show as she moved through the complete range of strokes to outclass Abramovic, ranked 192 in the world, in just 39 minutes, 6-0, 6-0.

Mauresmo said: "It was not the graveyard for me today, so that was a good point. You want to play on the biggest courts, that is for sure. I thought, 'OK, I will play on Court Two today and then I will have to prove myself again to go on the bigger ones'."

Abramovic, a 22-year-old Croat, was given a tough baptism on her Wimbledon debut by the world No 1. Mauresmo immediately broke serve. A double-fault in the fourth game gave Mauresmo another break, and she soon closed out the set 6-0.

It was more of the same at the start of the second set. Mauresmo broke the Croat again at the next opportunity. It was soon 4-0 when served a Abramovic double-fault to hand Mauresmo another break point, which she quickly claimed on another error from Abramovic. The powerful display of serve-and-volley tennis continued as the top seed completed the victory on her first match point when Abramovic put a forehand into the net.