In keeping with tradition, Federer had the honor of opening play on the main stadium court as defending champion at the 122nd Wimbledon championships. He seemed right at home as he beat Hrbaty 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 for his 60th straight grass-court win and 35th consecutive victory at the All England Club.
“I played well. It was a good match against a good friend of mine,” Federer said. “I was consistent all the way throughout. I didn’t have to face a break point. It’s good, but never easy to open Centre Court, but it’s a real honor.”
Federer, who loves the traditions of the game, walked onto Centre Court at 1 p.m. in retro fashion — donning a herringbone-pattern, four-button cardigan with gold trim and a stylized F on a badge on his left chest. The insignia on the buttons represent his five Wimbledon titles.
Federer warmed up wearing the cardigan for a few minutes, then took it off and got down to business. He won the first 11 points of the match, setting the tone for a trouble-free, one-sided match.
The 30-year-old Hrbaty, playing his 12th Wimbledon, had beaten Federer in their only two previous meetings — in 2000 and 2004. But the Slovakian player, who had elbow surgery last year, has slipped to No. 273 in the rankings and had won only two matches this year on the top-tier tour.
There were some light moments in the match. In the sixth game of the first set, Hrbaty ran down a lob and, with his back to the net, flipped a reverse shot down the line past a startled Federer. As Hrbaty ran across the court with hands raised in celebration, Federer smiled and clapped his racket.
In the final changeover at 5-2 in the third set, Hrbaty — realizing it could be his last time on Centre Court — sat in a chair alongside Federer and the two chatted and laughed. Federer then went out and held serve to finish the match.
Federer is trying to become only the second player to win six straight titles. That would equal the record established by William Renshaw, the champion in 1881-86, who only had to win one match to defend his titles.
Since the early 1900s, Federer and Bjorn Borg (1976-80) are the only men to win Wimbledon five times in a row.
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