Pete Sampras is looking for greater consistency after overcoming injury fears and British battler Martin Lee in yesterday's first round clash.

The seven-times champion was never entirely assured against Lee, who spurned an amazing 18 break points against the sixth seed.

But Sampras scrambled home in the end for a 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 straight sets victory which will give him a big confidence lift after a poor season.

And, after coming through the game without problem after his pre-tournament rib injury scare, the American has created a platform from which he feels he can advance.

''There were times when my serving was unhittable,'' he said.

''I didn't maintain it too long but it was a pretty high level at times. As the tournament goes on, you need to play at a high level more consistently.

''I'll get better as the week goes on. The first match is always the one you want to get through.''

Lee has won only one match since breaking into the top 100 and must now start to perform to the same standards he produced yesterday to avoid slipping down the rankings.

Greg Rusedski was delighted to easily clear his first hurdle to Wimbledon glory with a comfortable victory over Austria's Jurgen Melzer. Rusedski was in inspired form in the first set on his way to a 6-1 6-4 7-5 victory.

''I was very pleased with the way I played,'' said the British number two, who believes this year is one of two remaining chances he has to win Wimbledon.

''You don't win Wimbledon juniors by fluke but I managed to get on top of him and break early which set the tone for the match.

''I'm happy to be done in three sets and to have played so well.''

Sampras' old rival Andre Agassi looked much sharper as he advanced with a 6-0 6-4 6-4 win over Harel Levy. He breezed through the first set in just 18 minutes and also unleashed an untypical 16 aces after been handed the honour of opening proceedings on Centre Court in the absence of defending champion Goran Ivanisevic following shoulder surgery.

''It was a great honour,'' said the 1992 champion.

''I feel sorry for Goran because coming back on the first day is one of the most special parts of winning it.

''The year after I won it I was injured and struggling. I didn't play in the French Open and in hindsight shouldn't have come to Wimbledon but I couldn't help wanting to go out there and experience the feeling of walking out as defending champion.''

Apart from the two Americans, the only other player in the field to have won the title is injury-plagued Dutchman Richard Krajicek, who like Ivanisevic last year was handed a wild-card into the tournament.

Krajicek defeated Franco Squillari 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 but admitted only four weeks ago he had feared for his career after the recurrence of an arm muscle injury.

Mark Philippoussis has also been blighted by fitness worries over the last few years but he also came through with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2 success over Julien Boutter.

The Australian now faces Thomas Enqvist in one of the top second round encounters and is hoping he has enough in the tank to stay healthy for the next two weeks. ''I look at things from a completely different perspective now,'' he said.

''I have had three lots of surgery and spent two months in a wheelchair. When something like that happens it makes you open your eyes and realise you never know when your career will end.''

Second seed Marat Safin came through a tough examination with a 7-6 6-2 6-3 win over Cedric Pioline while rising star James Blake was gifted a second round berth when opponent Mariano Zabaleta withdrew at the start of the third set having already lost the opening two. Andy Roddick was also the beneficiary of an injury-induced pull-out, Bohdan Ulihrach the unlucky victim during the second set.

The only seed to fall was 21st-rated Max Mirnyi, who went down 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to American youngster Taylor Dent.