Wimbledon, England - The Championships, Wimbledon commenced Monday and world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic was a first-round victor on a gorgeous day at the All England Club.

The Serbian great handled capable German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match on the famed Centre Court.

The French Open runner-up Djokovic is the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champ. He has captured two of the last four titles at the All England Club after outlasting the legendary Roger Federer in last year's brilliant five-set finale.

Meanwhile, ninth-seeded U.S. Open champ Marin Cilic moved on by beating Japan's Hiroki Moriya 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Sixteenth-seeded Belgian David Goffin topped Argentine Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1, while 17th-seeded American John Isner dismissed Japanese Go Soeda 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4.

In other action involving seeds, No. 24 Argentine Leonardo Mayer erased Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 and No. 26 Aussie Nick Kyrgios clipped Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).