Defending champ Alcaraz opens Centre Court play in style at Wimbledon

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz was pushed by Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal on Monday, but found a way through in straight sets to ensure his title defence started in perfect fashion at The Championships.

The 21-year-old withstood a free-hitting, aggressive performance from Lajal to record a 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2 victory at the grass-court major.

"He surprised me a little bit because I had not seen him play too much," Alcaraz said. "He is very young, he is my age. I am sure I am going to see him on the Tour and play him more often. I am really happy to get through and get my first win on Centre Court this year."

Roaring on Centre Court 🦁@carlosalcaraz downs Lajal 7-6(3) 7-5 6-2 to continue his title defence!@Wimbledon | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/UWY0Zg4bbh

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 1, 2024

Opening play on Centre Court as the defending champion, Alcaraz looked comfortable for large periods in an environment in which he holds fond memories. The Spaniard toppled Novak Djokovic in five sets in the championship match last year to win his first Wimbledon title and looked in relaxed spirits when walking onto court for his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Lajal.

In a two-hour, 22-minute battle, Alcaraz used his feathered drop shot to great effect, while he treated the packed crowd to a number of explosive groundstrokes to set a second-round meeting with Mallorca finalist Sebastian Ofner or Australian Aleksandar Vukic.

"Stepping onto this court at Wimbledon is the most beautiful court that I have played on. I am still nervous when I play here," Alcaraz said. "I practised for 45 minutes on Thursday and it was the first time I have been nervous in practise and it is because it is for playing here."

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings became the youngest player in history to win a major on all three surfaces when he triumphed at Roland Garros last month. Alcaraz then won his opening grass-court match of the year against Francisco Cerundolo at Queen’s before British No. 1 Jack Draper upset him in the second round.

The Spaniard put any grass-court doubts to bed against Lajal, though, hitting 43 winners to extend his perfect record to 7-0 against qualifiers at majors.

Lajal is No. 269 in the PIF ATP Rankings but produced an impressive display on his Grand Slam debut. The 21-year-old, who admitted he started screaming after hearing he drew Alcaraz in the first round, was just the fifth man from Estonia to play at Wimbledon.

Alcaraz would play Borna Coric or Frances Tiafoe in the third round if he advances in round two. Croatian Coric beat Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3, while Tiafoe earned a thrilling 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win against Matteo Arnaldi. It is the first time the American has rallied from two-sets-to-love down in his career.