Hingis, who last year became the youngest player in the Open era to win the Wimbledon singles title at 16 years, nine month and five days, started gingerly but benefited from a 90-minute rain break to dispose of Raymond 7-5 6-3.

Novotna, the form grass-court player leading into the tournament following her success in Eastbourne last week, was less troubled by her first-round opponent Sandra Kleinova who managed to take only four games off the third seed. She won 6-2 6-2.

The weather called most of the shots on a typically fickle June day in London, play starting some 40 minutes behind schedule on the show courts and nearly three hours late on the outside courts.

Much to the relief of organisers, now required to refund spectators after years of keeping the takingseven if no play was possible, the players were able to take the courts for just over an hour before the drizzle set in again.

Seventh seed Venus Williams, who has high expectations at Wimbledon, entered unexplored territory by beating Canada's Jana Nejedly 6-3 6-3.

KAFELNIKOV OUSTED: Wimbledon lost a title contender on the opening day yesterday when Yevgeny Kafelnikov was ousted in the first round. Seventh-seeded Kafelnikov, lost on centre court to big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis, 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 6-2.

How the seeds fared

Men's singles (1st round): Mark Philippoussis (Aust) bt 7-Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Rus) 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-2, 12-Tim Henman (GB) bt Jiri Novak (Czech Rep) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 5-7 4-6 6-2, 16-Felix Mantilla (Spa) bt Christophe Van Garsse (Bel) 6-2 6-2 1-6 4-6 6-3

Women's singles (1st round): 10-Irina Spirlea (Rom) bt Francesca Lubiani (Ita) 7-5 6-3

Other first round results

Men's singles: Michael Chang (US) bt Juan Albert Viloca (Spain) 6-46-3 3-6 3-6 6-2, Daniele Bracciali (Ita) bt Martin Lee (GB) 4-6 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 6-2, Bohdan Ulihrach (Czech Rep) bt Lucas Arnold (Arg) 2-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-3, Sebastien Lareau (Can) bt Richey Reneberg (US) 6-4 6-3 6-3, Tomas Nydahl (Swe) bt Hernan Gumy (Arg) 7-5 6-2 7-6 (8-6), Brian Macphie (US) bt Karim Alami (Mor) 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5

Women's singles: Corina Morariu (US) bt Marion Maruska (Aut) 4-6 6-1 6-2, Louise Latimer (GB) bt Jana Kandarr (Ger) 6-4 6-1, Karen Cross (GB) bt Joanne Ward (GB) 6-3 6-4, Barbara Rittner (Germ) bt Amelie Cocheteux (Fra) 7-6 (8-6) 6-0, Elena Likhovtseva (Rus) bt Yuka Yoshida (Japan) 7-6 (8-6) 6-2, Janet Lee (Tai) bt Lorna Woodroffe (GB) 6-4 6-1, Iva Majoli (Croa) bt Karina Habsudova (Slo) 6-2 6-3, Patricia Hy-Boulais (Can) bt Meike Babel (Ger) 4-6 6-2 6-3, Mirjana Lucic (Cro) bt Anna Smashnova (Isr) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3