The sun finally came out at Wimbledon on Friday (NZ time) and eight-time champion Roger Federer got his old sparkle back on Centre Court to eclipse Richard Gasquet and move serenely into round three.
It was not quite vintage Federer, but the 7,500 fans packed around his favourite court did not care, as the Swiss gave them plenty to 'ooh' and 'aah' about in a 7-6(1) 6-1 6-4 victory.
The 39-year-old Swiss took a while to find his timing and needed to save three break points in his first service game.
But having been pushed into a tiebreak, the 20-time Grand Slam champion flicked the switch and his game began to flow, as he claimed the breaker in scintillating style.
After taking the opener, the sixth seed moved smoothly through the gears and Gasquet could not live with him, as the Frenchman suffered an 11th successive defeat against Federer, a run dating back to 2011 in which he has not even won a set.
Federer arrived at Wimbledon with doubts over his form, after an unusually early defeat in Halle. But the signs are looking positive, as he prepares to face Britain's Cameron Norrie.
"Felt good physically," Federer says. "Much more relaxed in many ways, as I was able to play a really good breaker.
"What I was able to do today gives you a lot of confidence. You can start to play so much more freely."
Federer is adored at Wimbledon, but he may find the Centre Court crowd a little less reverential when he faces in-form Norrie, one of three British men in the third round.
Norrie reached the last 32 for the first time with a 6-3 6-1 6-2 win against the Australian wildcard Alex Bolt.
"I hope the crowd gets into it," Federer said on court, after dispatching Gasquet.
"I understand if they cheer for him and if it is for me it is because of the last 20 years and all the big wins I've had here. Cam's had a wonderful year and played great at Queen's (reaching the final), backing that up here.
"But enough now, he needs to go out. I need to go through."
Earlier, maverick showman Nick Kyrgios breezed into the third round with his usual mixture of exuberant shot-making and near constant chatter, as he made light work of Italian Gianluca Mager to progress 7-6(7) 6-4 6-4.
Kyrgios went through his usual repertoire of berating officials, himself and anyone else in his vicinity but when it came to the serious business on court, he was almost faultless.
He saved a set point in the first set tiebreak and then roared in approval, as he snatched the opener, before taking the game away from his 77th-ranked opponent with some superb serving and delightful groundstrokes.
He fired down his 29th ace to bring up match point and then sealed his spot in the next round, when Mager hit a forehand long, receiving a rapturous reception from an approving crowd.
Reuters.
