Top seeds cruise on 1st day of wheelchair tennis

"The surface seems faster than the other courts, perhaps because it has been less used and that's perfect for me. I hope I will be on this one every day."

The top seeds came out dominant on the first day of wheelchair tennis at London 2012, as France’s Stephane Houdet and the Netherlands’ Esther Vergeer cruised in their singles matches.

World No. 1 Houdet’s serve was too strong for Thailand’s Suthi Khlongrua, as he won 6-1, 6-0 in the windless conditions on centre court.

"The surface seems faster than the other courts, perhaps because it has been less used and that's perfect for me," Houdet said. "I hope I will be on this one every day."

On the women’s side, Vergeer, also world No. 1, beat Domori Kanako of Japan, 6-0, 6-0, as she is aiming for a fourth gold medal in a row in women’s singles. She has now won 466 consecutive matches since January 2003.

Defending champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan was happy to play with some sun when he beat Rafael Medeiros Gomes of Brazil, 6-0, 6-0.

It was an easy start for world junior champion and world No. 5 in men's singles, Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina, who took just 39 minutes to beat a player more than twice his age, Fabian Mazzei of Italy, 6-0, 6-0.

A wave of orange saw Dutch players Robin Ammerlaan, Tom Egberink, Maikel Scheffers, Ronald Vink all won their matches.

In a fluorescent orange singlet, women’s world No. 2 Aniek van Koot won her first Paralympic match 6-0, 6-0 against another Paralympic debutant Janel Mans of Australia.

World No. 3 Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands beat Natalia Mayara of Brazil, 6-2, 6-0.