JOHANNA KONTA is up and running at this year’s Wimbledon, but she had to dig deep to see off world No 88 Natalia Vikhlyantseva today.

The British No 1, who reached the semi-finals last year, was a 7-5 7-6 (9/7) winner on a hot but blustery Court Two.

Konta needs to avoid an early exit at this year’s championships to prevent herself potentially slipping out of the world’s top 50.

Her opponent, the 21-year-old Russian, was a tricky but inconsistent player, with only one grand slam event win to her name. Vikhlyantseva still managed to give the 22nd seed plenty of problems.

A break point for Konta came and went in the seventh game, the 27-year-old slipping on the baseline as Vikhlyantseva’s forehand wrong-footed her.

The pair were locked at 5-5, but two double faults, a clubbing Konta forehand and a long backhand from Vikhlyantseva secured the break.

Having served out the opening set, Konta immediately broke again, turning an awkward-looking return into a breathtaking cross-court winner.

A sloppy service game allowed Vikhlyantseva to level matters at 4-4 and Konta then had to fend off two set points on serve.

In the tie-break, Konta, the 22nd seed, squandered five match points but made the sixth count with a forehand volley to progress safely, if not entirely convincingly, to round two.

“The first round is always tricky, both players are trying to find their level,” she said afterwards.

“The conditions were tricky, it was very breezy and there were some nerves there, but I enjoyed every second of it and no matter how long I was out there I was going to fight for every point.

“There are some things I should have done better, but she played some good points as well. I’m working very hard to be here for the whole two weeks.”

Konta faces Dominika Cibulkova next. The Slovakian presents a danger after only missing out on a seeding when Serena Williams was bumped up from her ranking outside the top 100.

Elsewhere, British No 4 Naomi Broady was unable to stop Garbine Muguruza’s march into the second round.

Broady, handed a wild card into the tournament, was beaten 6-2 7-5 by the 2017 champion.

The 24-year-old Muguruza was happy to return to Centre Court and said: “It was incredible, it is a beautiful court, I am back and it is always good, I wanted to win and enjoy it more.

“I am happy with my serve and controlling the emotions. To be back in a grand slam is always emotional, so I am happy the way I am playing.

“I knew she had a big serve and big shots and on grass it’s always difficult.”

It was a flawless display by the Spaniard, who will have hopes of finishing her campaign back on Centre Court a week on Saturday.

Kyle Edmund defeated Alex Bolt 6-2 6-3 7-5.

The 21st seed was in complete control during the first two sets and did not drop a point on his first serve while breaking Australian qualifier Bolt four times.

The third set was trickier, with Bolt breaking Edmund for the first time and serving for it. He forced a set point, but Edmund saved it and reeled off four games in a row to win.

Derby teenager Jay Clarke was narrowly beaten in a five-setter on his Wimbledon debut by experienced Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

The 19-year-old took the first set against the former world number 10 and hauled the match back to 2-2 after losing the second and third.

However, Clarke was left still waiting for a first grand slam event win after Gulbis wrapped up a 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7/3) 3-6 6-4 victory.