Federer, Murray, Nadal roll in Wimbledon openers

Seven-time champion Roger Federer, former titlist Andy Murray and two-time champ Rafael Nadal were a trio of opening-round winners on a steamy Tuesday at Wimbledon.

The second-seeded former world No. 1 great Federer flattened Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court at the All England Club.

Federer made a surprising admission when asked what it felt like walking on to a court that is considered to be his second home.

"It's nerves," the 33-year-old said while drenched in sweat after playing in 90-degree weather.

"It's exciting. But after all, it's a privilege to be there. I was trying to think how many times I've played there now. I don't know. I know it's been often. Still every time it feels like it's a special occasion, for sure."

The 17-time Grand Slam king Federer has reached nine finals at The Championships and is seeking a men's-record eighth title here. He lost to Novak Djokovic in a dramatic five-set final a year ago.

Meanwhile, the third-seeded 2013 Wimbledon champ Murray defeated Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 and the 10th-seeded former No. 1 Nadal handled Brazilian fellow left-handier Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Murray was also a runner-up here to Federer in 2012.

The 14-time Grand Slam titlist Nadal is 2-3 in Wimbledon finals, including a victory over Federer in the 2008 title tilt -- one of the greatest matches in the history of the sport.

Twelfth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon erased Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, while 13th-seeded French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga needed just under four hours to outlast Luxembourg left-hander Gilles Muller 7-6 (10-8), 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 15th-seeded Spanish southpaw Feliciano Lopez topped Belgian Steve Darcis 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, and 18th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils grounded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

In other action involving seeds, No. 20 Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut got past Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6); No. 22 Serb Viktor Troicki bested Kazakhstan's Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; No. 23 Croat Ivo Karlovic slammed 42 aces in topping Swede Elias Ymer 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2); No. 25 Italian Andreas Seppi whipped Aussie Brydan Klein 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; Pablo Andujar knocked out No. 29 fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4; No. 30 Italian Fabio Fognini foiled American Tim Smyczek 6-4, 6-3, 6-2; and Aussie Sam Groth dismissed No. 31 American Jack Sock 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at this grass-court fortnight.

[SportsNetwork.com]