London: The third Grand Slam tournament of the season, Wimbledon, commenced today with an exciting opening match on Centre Court. Third seed Carlos Alcaraz from Spain triumphed over qualifier Marc Lajal from Estonia, with a straight-sets victory of 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the men’s singles.
In a two-hour and 22-minute contest, the 21-year-old Alcaraz showcased his resilience and skill against Lajal’s aggressive play. Alcaraz’s victory in this grass-court major propels him into the second round, continuing his strong performance this season.
“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 expressed after his win.
Alcaraz, participating in Wimbledon for the fourth consecutive year, won the prestigious title last year. He claimed victory in a thrilling final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia, overcoming the four-time defending champion with a scoreline of 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. This marked his second Grand Slam title, following his 2022 US Open win.
Entering the tournament with a 26-6 record for the year, Alcaraz has already secured titles at the Indian Wells ATP1000 (hard court) in March and the French Open (Paris, clay court) in June. His consistent performance and recent victories have set high expectations for his journey at Wimbledon.
In the second round, Alcaraz will face the winner of the match between Sebastian Ofner of Austria and Alexander Bukic of Australia. As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate whether Alcaraz can defend his title and add another Grand Slam to his impressive record.
