WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – A homemade necklace proclaiming “Daddy Rocks” has replaced the thick gold chain and dangling earring Andre Agassi sported when he won Wimbledon in 1992. A shaved head glistens where tresses once flowed underneath a sponsor-touting ballcap.

And when Agassi stepped out Tuesday for the first match of his final Wimbledon, he lingered a moment, taking in the raucous standing ovation.

All the applause and whistles and hoots of good will got to him, so much so that Agassi played an awful opening set before righting his racket and beating 71st-ranked Boris Pashanski of Serbia 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

“To feel that sort of support – it just meant the world to me. I just wanted to do ’em proud,” Agassi said. “So I got a little nervous about trying too hard early, overhit a lot. Took me awhile to settle down.”

Long a crowd favorite, he’s drawing extra interest and adulation this fortnight. He missed Wimbledon the past two years with injuries, and, more significantly, he announced Saturday he’ll retire after the U.S. Open.

That made Agassi the focal point at the All England Club on a day filled with all manner of matches thanks to rain Monday that permitted only about 30 minutes of play. With bits of blue sky peering out between the clouds on Day 2, fans wandered the grounds to sneak peeks at star players everywhere.

Among the winners were three-time defending champion Roger Federer, 1997 champion Martina Hingis, and Grand Slam champions Rafael Nadal, Marat Safin, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters.

Federer completed a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Richard Gasquet for his 42nd win in a row on grass, breaking Bjorn Borg’s record set in 1976-81.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” said Federer, who next faces four-time semifinalist and local favorite Tim Henman. “To get any streak is obviously nice. I’m still going, so even better.”

Federer worked only 37 minutes Tuesday; he led 6-3, 1-2 when action was suspended Monday. Hingis, who won Wimbledon at age 16 in 1997, also took a one-set lead into Tuesday, and she polished off Olga Savchuk of Ukraine 6-2, 6-2. Hingis hadn’t played at Wimbledon since 2001.

Agassi came to Wimbledon having played one match the past three months because of back problems; he also missed the Australian Open with an ankle injury.

When he won the first of his eight Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon 14 years ago, he beat Boris Becker in the quarterfinals, John McEnroe – yep, that John McEnroe – in the semifinals, and Goran Ivanisevic in the final. Agassi was 22 at the time, reveling in his rebelliousness.

Now he’s married to Steffi Graf, is a father of two – 4-year-old son Jaden strung together the necklace Agassi wore on court Tuesday – and emblematic of the tennis establishment. Plus, he’s playing guys he’s never heard of.

Pashanski is 23, had never played at a major until this year, and was the one on court with a hat turned backward Tuesday. Agassi is 36 and looked it for moments, particularly near the end, with an extra hitch in his step.

“I’ve had years where I felt better; sort of don’t want to harp on any of the negatives,” he said. “This is a challenge for me in more ways than I probably ever communicate.”

He couldn’t stop smiling during the coin toss, when he blew a kiss to the crowd – something he usually waits to do until after a match. Knowing each time on Wimbledon’s sod could be his last, Agassi is soaking up the sights and sounds. He acknowledged some opening jitters Tuesday.

He had 33 winners and only 14 unforced errors over the last three sets. Those quick strokes from the baseline were there, accompanied by exhales that were more groan than grunt. And he swatted 17 aces, including his last two serves.

“I sometimes get goosebumps just by watching him play. The attention in his eyes – I don’t think you see that a lot in any player when he’s really focused. That’s been incredible to see,” said reigning U.S. Open champion Clijsters, who finished her rain-interrupted victory over Vera Zvonareva. “That backhand: If I could just hit one of those backhands down the line like he hits them sometimes, I would be the happiest girl in the world.”

Other past major champions who won Tuesday included Svetlana Kuznetsova and Juan Carlos Ferrero, while No. 8-seeded James Blake of the United States fended off qualifier Kristian Pless’ rally to win 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

One past major champion exited: 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, a Wimbledon semifinalist a year ago and seeded 12th this time, lost to fellow Swede Jonas Bjorkman. Other seeded losers: No. 20 Dominik Hrbaty, No. 21 Gael Monfils, No. 29 Paradorn Srichaphan, No. 31 Nicolas Massu, and No. 32 Paul-Henri Mathieu, who went down to 2003 Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis and his 39 aces.

And there was even a B. Becker of Germany on the schedule. Not three-time Wimbledon champion Boris, mind you, but 161st-ranked qualifier Benjamin Becker (no relation), who beat Juan Ignacio Chela in four sets.