Federer beats Pella 3-0 in Wimbledon first round

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates winning his match against Argentina's Guido Pella at All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Wimbledon, England, on June 27, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

LONDON - For the Roger Federer fans on Center Court and the legions watching on televisions around the world it was a reassuring sight as the Swiss swept past Argentina's Guido Pella into the second round of Wimbledon on Monday.

Knee surgery and a nagging back injury had restricted the 17-times Grand Slam champion to 22 matches this season and his no-show at the recent French Open ended a run of 65 consecutive major appearances.

Talk of time finally catching up with Federer has been doing the rounds. So all eyes were on the 34-year-old Swiss great as he stepped onto Center Court where he had held the trophy aloft on seven occasions.

But Federer began his 18th consecutive Wimbledon campaign with a tidy 7-6(5) 7-6(3) 6-3 victory that, while never spectacular, was relatively comfortable.

He offered up not a single break point to the 51st-ranked Pella, and while he converted only one of the nine that came his way, he found an extra gear when required.

Federer's only real moment of alarm came at 5-6, 0-30 in the second set. But he quickly killed the danger and waltzed through the tiebreak to take a two-set lead. With light fading he made light work of the third set.