Video: Heather Watson starts with a win

Her victory came on a rain-affected opening day for the main draw at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham.

Watson – who was so close to a famous upset against Serena WIlliams at Wimbledon last year – stormed through to the second round with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Italy's Camilla Giorgi.

British No 1 Johanna Konta and British No 3 Naomi Broady were aiming to join Watson in round two today.

Konta had to get past Misaki Doi and Broady was set to resume her rain-delayed match against Australia's Daria Gavrilova.

Watson told the crowd after her win: "I really love it here in Birmingham. I haven't had the results here before that I wanted but I'm really motivated to do well here.

"I have family close by in Coventry so it feels a little bit like a home from home for me.

"The grass courts here are superb. The last couple of years they've been absolutely world class."

Seventh seed Madison Keys, who reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year, earned her first win on grass of the 2016 season.

The American secured a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Hungary's Timea Babos.

Keys said: "I think for the most part, I played pretty well. I think I started off really well and then there's definitely some bad moments in there.

"First match on grass is always really tough. She's a really good player on grass, especially serving-wise. So it's always tough to get a read returning."

A host of big names were set to be in action across all courts at the Edgbaston Priory Club today.

The action was due to open with a barnstorming match-up on the Ann Jones Centre Court between two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and former Roland Garros finalist Lucie Safarova.

Defending champion Angelique Kerber will oppose accomplished grass court player Peng Shuai, before world No 3 and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska was due to face in-form American Coco Vandeweghe.

Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki was also set to be in action against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.