A brief rain interruption stopped play, but the All England club was back in business within half an hour to get through a busy opening day of 64 singles matches.
Holder Murray produced a flawless 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Kazakh Alexander Bublik, while number four seed Nadal dispatched Australian John Millman 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 for his 850th win.
Top seed Murray had been plagued by hip worries in the run-up week to the grass court major, but showed no sign of any compromise as he schooled his opponent in one and three-quarter hours.
Nadal was merciless as he moved onto grass after dominating the clay season, hammering out a no-drama victory.
“That was a very positive match for me, a good start,” the Spaniard said. “The only thing that means anything today was a very positive start.
“I am through to the second round. That’s a very important thing for me. I didn’t win a lot of matches over the last couple of years here in Wimbledon.
“Today I won one, and I am looking forward to play the second one.”
Murray broke Bublik for 5-2 in the third set and earned three match points a game later as he served for victory. Bublik saved one on a Murray error, but could not handle a return at his feet off a drop shot.
“I played pretty good, moved quite well,” Murray said. “He doesn’t give you loads of rhythm. But I hit the ball well. I don’t feel like I made too many unforced errors.
“I’m not in a lot of (hip) pain when I’m walking, that’s for sure. I’m certainly not hurting between the points. When I’m walking, it’s fine.”
Murray’s upcoming opponent will be dreadlocked German Dustin Brown, who beat Joao Sousa 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4. Murray is competing for the 12th time at Wimbledon and hoping to become the first British player — man or woman — to defend a grand slam title since Fred Perry won Wimbledon from 1934-36.
Japan’s ninth seed, Kei Nishikori, mowed down Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 while French 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dispatched local Brit Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Nick Kyrgios quit his opening-round match with hip pain in a horror start for the Australian 20th seed. Only an hour or two into the kick-off of the fortnight, Kyrgios pulled the plug, taking a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Pierre-Hugues Herbert, ranked 70th. He had complained of the left hip problem coming into the major, rating his fitness at “60, 65 per cent.”
Kyrgios quit after receiving a visit from the trainer. It was the first loss for him in the Wimbledon first round after reaching the last 16 the year before. “I just wasn’t 100 per cent. Take nothing away from him. He plays great grass court tennis. He serves well. So he’s going to do well,” Kyrgios said.
Kyrgios said he had been warned off attempting to play: “I spoke to the doctor before the tournament started. He was leaning towards me not even playing.
“But this is my favourite tournament, I do well here every year. So it’s tough for me to go out there and get beaten and pull out. It’s not the easiest thing for me to do.” In women’s play, number two Simona Halep overwhelmed Kiwi qualifier Marina Eraovic 6-4, 6-1; and fourth seed Elina Svitolina dispatched Ash Barty 7-5, 7-6 (10-8).
“My clay court season was pretty good. I played the maximum of the last three tournaments, the finals.” Halep said. “But here is different, way different than the clay court.”
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