Defending champion Roger Federer's bid to set a new benchmark for consecutive grass court victories was beaten by the weather on Wimbledon's opening day.

Federer's bid to surpass the record of 41 wins he currently shares with the great Bjorn Borg ended 35 minutes into his Centre Court match with Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

The Swiss 24-year-old had taken the first set 6-3 and was 2-1 down in a second set which was going with serve when the rain returned and play was suspended.

Despite repeated attempts to resume play the weather never cleared up sufficiently and play was abandoned for the day shortly at 7.20 BST ensuring a bumper first Tuesday schedule.

Federer and Gasquet were due back on Centre Court following the opening match between French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne and Meng Yuan of China.

Federer's possible second round opponent Tim Henman kicks off the action on Court One against Swede Robin Soderling, while Andy Murray is fourth on Centre against Nicolas Massu.

Federer had looked eager to get his campaign underway against 20-year-old Gasquet, who proved his grass-court calibre by claiming a second consecutive triumph in Nottingham last week.

The Swiss world number one started the match with an ace followed by a double fault, and seized the initiative by breaking Gasquet in his first service game.

Federer seldom looked in danger on his own powerful serve and produced his usual dazzling array of passing shots to wrap up the first set in 26 minutes.

Gasquet, rebounding after a year ravaged by injury and illness and thus one of the most dangerous non-seeds Federer could have faced, started the second set in more positive fashion.

He held his first two service games of the second set for the loss of just one point and appeared to be growing in confidence when the rain came and temporarily ended his challenge.

Former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis breezed through the first set 6-2 against Ukraine's Olga Savchuk in her first appearance at the Championships in three years.

Meanwhile women's number two seed Kim Clijsters was 5-4 up and about to serve for the first set against Russian DFS Classic champion Vera Zvonareva.