Wimbledon 2012: day one – in pictures

The queueing crowd enter the grounds at 10.30am and the row of security guards that leads them in ensures that there's no unruly and uncouth behaviour such as running to bagsy the best spots Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Fans check out the order of play Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The first game on Centre Court is defending champion Novak Djokovic against Juan Carlos Ferrero. The No1 seed endures an edgy start and is broken in the third game of the first set Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The world No1 comes back strongly and his usual combination of rugged defence and consistently accurate groundstrokes means he takes the opening set 6-3 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The second set sees Djokovic get into his groove after the shaky start and he takes the second set 6-3 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The Serbian is on cruise control in this match and breezes through the third set to win the match 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Wimbledon wouldn't be Wimbledon without dark clouds threatening overhead Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The dark clouds soon skedaddle, meaning there's outbreaks of sunshine on the outer courts. This wise chap is taking the precaution of applying sun cream Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Two double faults wasn't the start that Venus Williams would have wanted in her match against Elena Vesnina and it didn't get any better - she lost the first set 6-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The Russian, who is ranked No79, took advantage of the fact that Williams' rhythm and movement were well below par to take a 5-3 lead in the second set Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The five times Wimbledon champion, who announced at last year's US Open that she is suffering from Sjogren's syndrome, was unable to pull anything out of her locker and a lame forehand return gave the game, set and the match (6-1, 6-3) to Vesnina Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Match 2 on Centre Court features another world No 1 - Maria Sharapova, who is taking on the world No133 Anastasia Rodionova Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Despite the grimace on her face, the 2004 Wimbledon champion isn't having too much trouble with Rodionova and takes just over a quarter of an hour to win the first set 6-2 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

There's some brief resistance by Rodionova, but the French Open champion outpowers and outmanoeuvres her to take the second set 6-3 and progress through to the second round. It was an impressive display by Sharapova especially considering it was her first match on grass this year Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

There's pens and cameras at the ready as Sharapova makes her way off the court Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It's been a bad few days for David Nalbandian. Last Sunday he was disqualifed at the Queens final and today he struggled to impose himself against the eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic and was sent packing in straight sets - 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Janko Tipsarevic celebrates his victory over Nalbandian Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

With plenty of police on duty at Wimbledon, it makes sense for David Nalbandian to keep his emotions in check after his defeat Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Twenty year old Heather Watson puts in a mature performance on Centre Court to beat Iveta Benesova, the world No55, 6-2, 6-1. Not only does the victory make her the first Brit into the second round, it's also her first ever win at Wimbledon, including juniors Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian