THE man with the most major titles in tennis came up against the player with the second-worst record in grand slam history.

    So it was no surprise that Roger Federer strolled to a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory Tuesday over Paolo Lorenzi, a one-sided encounter that gave the Swiss star a quick workout to start his quest for an eighth Wimbledon crown and 18th grand slam title.

    Federer lost here in the second round last year to No. 116 Sergei Stakhovsky, but brushed aside the 83rd-ranked Italian.

    The fourth-seeded Federer served nine aces, saved all five break points against him and broke Lorenzi six times.

    Federer and Lorenzi are both 32, but that’s where the similarities end. For the Italian, the loss extended his career grand slam record to 0-13. Only one player, Juan-Antonio Marin of Costa Rica, has a worse record, with no wins and 17 losses.

    French Open champion Rafael Nadal, the second seed, overcame a first set blip to beat Slovak Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Center Court.

    Earlier, Stanislas Wawrinka swept through in straight sets.

    Australian Open champion Wawrinka served 18 aces and cruised to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Joao Sousa of Portugal.

    The fifth-seeded Swiss player was coming off a first-round loss at the French Open in his first grand slam since winning his first major at Melbourne in January. It was also Wawrinka’s first win since 2011 at the All England Club.

    Twice former semifinalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga needed only four points to complete a first-round win over seasoned Austrian Jurgen Melzer, the 14th seed winning 6-1, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 after rain interrupted play Monday with the Frenchman serving for the match.

    Normally, the reigning women’s champion would play the day’s opening match on Center Court. But Marion Bartoli retired shortly after winning last year’s title, leaving the honor to runner-up Sabine Lisicki.

    The 19th-seeded German fared much better in her return to Center Court, needing just 57 minutes to put away Julia Glushko of Israel 6-2, 6-1.

    Before the match, Bartoli returned to Center Court, wiping away tears during a tribute to Elena Baltacha, the British player who died of liver cancer May 4 at the age of 30.

    Maria Sharapova, bidding for a French Open and Wimbledon double, ended the hopes of a British player named Murray — Samantha being no relation to men’s singles champion Andy. The Russian crushed the local girl’s hopes 6-1, 6-0.  (SD-Agencies)