Opening serve he took 11 points in a row before Hrbaty managed to register on the scoreboard. Hrbaty pulled it back to 5-3 but it was Federer who served for the set, winning it comfortably before racing to a 4-0 lead in the second. Hrbaty struggled, and only a wide error on a Federer return in the fifth game clocked him his fourth game of the match. Seventeen games and 53 minutes after the start a superb top-spin forehand handed the second set to Federer. In the second game of the third Hrbaty had a brief moment of hope, a chance to break. Yet Federer responded with a blistering ace before moving to a 5-1 lead. It was all the unfortunate Slovak could do to keep his head up, though he did manage to lighten the atmosphere by sitting next to Federer on the changeover. In the eighth game, despite sympathetic some calls from the crowd to ‘at least let Hrbaty know where he was going to serve’ Federer comfortably held to make it 6-2 and match over.

It is an axiom in sport that in any tournament it is best not to peak too soon. Yet this was a restrained and regal performance from the defending champion that will signal to his challengers he is still very much a force to be reckoned with. He made it look incredibly easy. Perhaps his opponent, ranked No. 272 in the world, was never going to make such a top player break sweat. Perhaps the bandana was never going to be necessary.

This afternoon the king returned to centre-court and graced his admirers with an elegant and exemplary opening performance.