Carlos Alcaraz defeated 269th-ranked qualifier Mark Lajal at first of his Wimbledon title defence on Monday as Andy Murray determined whether or not or to not name a halt to his All England Membership singles profession. As motion acquired below means, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was heading dwelling after withdrawing from the match with a shoulder damage. Alcaraz, nonetheless solely 21, is chasing his fourth Grand Slam title and hopes to change into simply the sixth man after Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.
Opening the Centre Court docket programme, the Spanish star recovered from a break down in every of the primary two units to see off the dreadlocked Lajal 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-2.
“He performed a very good match, he clearly shocked me a little bit bit as a result of I did not have the prospect to see him play so much,” stated Alcaraz.
This time final 12 months, Lajal was dropping a first-round match at a second-tier Challenger occasion in america and incomes a paltry $780 — on Monday he banked $75,000.
Two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabalenka, ranked third on the planet, is one in all eight gamers to have pulled out for the reason that draw was made.
She had admitted she was not 100% match after struggling a shoulder damage on the Berlin Open and has been changed by Russian fortunate loser Erika Andreeva.
“Heartbroken to should let you know all that I will not be capable of play The Championships this 12 months,” wrote 26-year-old Sabalenka on X.
Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev reached the second spherical and admitted he was completely happy to not be enjoying on the All England Membership’s famed Centre Court docket.
Medvedev, a semi-finalist final 12 months, hit 16 aces in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Aleksandar Kovacevic of america.
“I’ve nonetheless by no means misplaced on Court docket One so hopefully I can play much more matches on this courtroom,” stated Medvedev.
“Final 12 months I stated it was unlucky I needed to go to Centre Court docket for the semis and I misplaced.”
Eighth seed Casper Ruud, who has by no means been previous the second spherical, noticed off Alex Bolt of Australia in straight units and revealed he had been laid low by a parasite since reaching the French Open semi-finals.
“I used to be largely in mattress for 10, 11 days, which was not what I used to be type of hoping for,” stated the Norwegian.
Three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka gained his Wimbledon opener on the age of 39, beating British wild card Charles Broom 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
“I believe there may be sufficient motive to maintain enjoying. I do not need to go dwelling,” stated Wawrinka, who made his debut at Wimbledon in 2005.
World primary Jannik Sinner, a semi-finalist in 2023, begins in opposition to Yannick Hanfmann, the German world quantity 110.
The 22-year-old Sinner gained a maiden Slam on the Australian Open after which deposed Djokovic as world primary, turning into the primary Italian man to achieve such heights.
Sinner arrives in London having captured his first grass-court title in Halle.
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