By Will Jennings at Wimbledon

Roger Federer's presence was enough to make even ice-cool Kazakh Elena Rybakina come close to cracking under the Centre Court pressure, admits the defending Wimbledon champion.

Rybakina, 24, kicked off her pursuit of a second consecutive SW19 title under the roof against American Shelby Rogers on Tuesday.

And with eight-time All England Club champion Federer in attendance, the usually rock-solid Rybakina was forced to do things the hard way as she battled back from a set behind to eventually book her place in the second round.

Rogers, ranked 46 places below the current world No.3, stunned Rybakina to clinch the first set before the reigning champion rallied to turn the tables and complete a resilient 4-6 6-1 6-2 victory.

Federer, 41, was accompanied by the Princess of Wales in the Royal Box as the 20-time Grand Slam champion received a special ceremony before Rybakina’s clash.

The Russian-born ace has fond memories of watching Federer storm to a record-breaking number of Wimbledon titles and now hopes to follow in his glittering grass court footsteps.

Rybakina, who was forced to withdraw from the French Open owing to illness last month, said: “I was a bit nervous, but overall I'm happy that in the end I managed to win three sets.

“Maybe I was nervous because I really like Roger. When I was younger, I was always watching him play.

“It was really special. The year after to be again on this court with the same crowd, it was really special.

“Of course, just the atmosphere and the attention to be on Centre Court, it's different than the last year, because last year I started on a smaller court. With every match I was playing better and better, feeling better.

“Here it's different – straightaway you go to this big court. I think for me it's now a new chapter and this is something I need to get used and try to maintain my level.

“First matches, I think they're always tough I would say, like, mentally to get to the rhythm of the tournament. So hopefully the next match is going to be easier."

Ons Jabeur reckons resorting to meditation can help her go one step further than last year’s defeat in the final against Rybakina.

The Tunisian ace and world No.5, 28, eased past Pole Magdalena French in straight sets on a covered Court 1 in one of the few matches to be completed on a wet day in Wimbledon.

Unlike world No.1 and top seed Igi Swiatek – who progressed to the second round on Monday – Jabeur is far from an avid reader when it comes to relaxing away from the court.

But the two-time Grand Slam runner-up admits she is placing greater emphasis on her mental health as she bids to finally banish her finish line demons and clinch that elusive title.

She said: “I have my mental coach with me here.

“She's helping me a lot – we do meditate.

“I read some books, I'm not a big reader like Iga, but I try to read from time to time.

“For me, I'm someone that always focuses on myself.

“I try to improve not just on a tennis court but in life in general because it is very important for me to be a good person and able to succeed.

“It doesn't stop for me as a tennis player, but also as a human being.”

Elsewhere on Tuesday, world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka sailed through to the second round with an emphatic 6-3 6-1 victory over Hungarian Panna Udvardy.

The reigning Australian Open champion required just over an hour to navigate her way past the current world No.82 in the third match of the day on Centre Court.