Wimbledon: Super Coach John McEnroe the star attraction on Court Two

American becomes centre of attention

John McEnroe gives Milos Raonic some advice (Getty)

Even in the era of the Super Coach the player has still been the star attraction. A Roger Federer masterclass trumped glancing up to Stefan Edberg in the stand, Andy Murray pips the stony-faced Ivan Lendl for entertainment value and the peerless Novak Djokovic beats Boris watch.

But John McEnroe in the corner of Milos Raonic may just tip the balance. Not that there were any antics on Monday from the American – no Super Brat from this Super Coach – but the star quality here is maybe weighted to teacher over pupil.

McEnroe did not slip into his Court Two seat to watch his Canadian charge until five games had been played but when he did he saw a comfortable victory for the sixth seed over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta. The American, looking as cool as Christmas in his New York Yankees cap, dark shades and blue suit, was the subject of as many lenses as the players following his decision to work with Raonic in a short-term grass-court capacity.

McEnroe stood to applaud when Raonic, 25, rushed the net, something the pair have been working on. The Canadian was not at his powerful best but his big serve was too much for Carreno Busta who he beat 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 as he seeks to better his 2014 Wimbledon when he reached the last four before losing to Federer.

Milos Raonic is happy to have John McEnroe in his corner (Getty)

“I was grateful that he accepted,” Raonic said of his new coach who helped him get to the final of Queen’s where he lost to Andy Murray: Lendl 1 McEnroe 0 in their resumed rivalry. “I wanted to really emphasize coming forward and making life more difficult for my opponents, keeping them off balance more.”

“John is one of the more positive people, especially a contrast to the way he might have been on court. That was the thing probably that's taken me aback the most. He's very persistent in enforcing the positive things you do well. He showed that a lot last week.

“We'll discuss the match later, as well, but it's good to have him here and that he made that time possible.”

McEnroe, three-time champion in SW19, will still be doing commentary for the BBC during Wimbledon so his work with the Canadian during the tournament will be minimal – the hard yards have been done in three weeks prior to the All England Club event – but the deeper Raonic goes the more McEnroe may feel the need to chip in.

Elsewhere on day one No 5 seed Kei Nishikori beat Australia’s Sam Groth in straight sets on Court One. The Japanese produced a fine display of hard hitting from the baseline to subdue Groth 6-4 6-3 7-5 in an entertaining clash of styles.

The crowd were treated to a rare show of serving and volleying as Groth - with his baseball cap on backwards - charged into the net after his big first serve, which topped 140mph on occasion. However, he could not find a way past Nishikori's groundstrokes.