Alcaraz tested by impressive Lajal in opening Wimbledon win
Carlos Alcaraz beat Mark Lajal 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2. He will play Aleksandar Vukic in the second round
Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon, 2024 © Action Plus / Panoramic
Carlos Alcaraz returned to the scene of his greatest triumph with victory, overcoming the testing challenge of Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2 to reach the second round of Wimbledon.
Opening the first day’s play on Centre Court as the defending champion, as tradition dictates at the All England Club, Alcaraz was playing his first match back on the same court where he dethroned Novak Djokovic twelve months ago.
The defending champion was given an unexpectedly testing challenge from the 21-year-old qualifier, who was making his first main-draw appearance at a Grand Slam.
The Estonian broke first, sending ripples of excitement around an enthralled Centre Court crowd, only for Alcaraz to hit straight back before taking the opener on a tiebreak.
In the second stanza, it was Lajal again who struck first, breaking the Spaniard early. But Alcaraz, as in the first set, hit straight back before earning a third break in the eleventh game to seal a two-set lead.
The final set was a more straightforward affair for Alcaraz, as he broke twice en route to wrapping up a hard-fought first-round win against a highly impressive young opponent.
Lajal’s name will be one that eagle-eyed tennis fans will follow closely over the coming months and years. He moved excellently, looking very much at ease on grass, and played a varied game built on a solid serve with effective net play mixed in.
no first-round slip-ups for alcaraz
Alcaraz will be relieved to have come through unscathed, as it was a very close contest across those first two sets.
But he avoided the ignominy of being beaten in the first round as defending champion, looking every bit the assured title-contender he did this time last year.
“Stepping on this Centre Court at Wimbledon, it is the most beautiful court I’ve played on. I still get nerves when I play here,” the Spaniard said in his on-court interview.
“I try not to think about it [winning Wimbledon last year].
“It’s a new year. Totally different tournament. I have to be focused on my game just to play at the same level as last year if I want to repeat what I did last year.
“Obviously when I’m practicing and walking around, when I walk on court, I got goosebumps. I remember last year. It was a great feeling.”
Next up for Alcaraz will be a match against Aleksandar Vukic, who beat Sebastian Ofner in another first-round match.
