Agencies
London
Carlos Alcaraz got his Wimbledon title defence off to an encouraging start with a straight-sets victory on Centre Court on Monday.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, seeded third this year, beat Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 22 minutes.
Lajal, also 21 but ranked 266 places lower than Alcaraz, sported dreadlocks pulled back in a pineapple-style ponytail on his Wimbledon debut.
He took a chunk out of the three-time grand slam winner with a break of serve in the opening set.
But Alcaraz, who last month added the French Open to his Wimbledon and US Open titles, hit straight back and then eased through the gears.
“He played a really good match,” said Alcaraz. “Obviously he surprised me a little bit because I hadn’t seen him too much.
“He’s young, he’s my age and I’m sure I’m going to see him really soon on the tour and play him more often.
“But I’m really happy to get through and get my first win on Centre Court this year.”
Osaka wins on first
appearance since 2019
Naomi Osaka said it “feels like a dream” as she made a winning return on her first appearance at Wimbledon for five years.
The four-time Grand Slam champion came through 6-1 1-6 6-4 against Diane Parry on court two.
Japan’s Osaka returned to the tour in 2024 after giving birth to her first child, daughter Shai, a year ago.
The 26-year-old, who is now ranked 113rd in the world, was injured in 2022 and also missed the 2021 tournament while taking time off to deal with mental health issues.
Competing as a wildcard, Osaka raced through the opening set in just 22 minutes, firing a series of winners past French 21-year-old Parry.
Her level dropped in the second set, though, as Parry quickly levelled and the world number 53 twice went a break up in the deciding set. But Osaka, who has never been beyond the third round at SW19, fought back and three double faults in the final game from Parry proved her downfall.
“I’m really excited to be here and it’s funny, Wimbledon was the first tournament I watched after pregnancy and my daughter’s turning one tomorrow so, I’m really glad to still be here,” said Osaka.
Raducanu returns with ‘nervous’ victory
Emma Raducanu made a winning return to Wimbledon after coming through a testing first-round battle against Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazua.
The 21-year-old Briton, who missed last year’s tournament through injury, claimed a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 victory on Centre Court.
Raducanu was supposed to be playing 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and thought she would be the “complete underdog” in her first appearance at the All England Club since losing in the second round two years ago.
Instead, the 2021 US Open champion found herself in a role reversal when the Russian withdrew through illness on Monday morning.
“For the past three days, I’ve been playing and setting up practice for similar opponents and then it is a change of plan,” said Raducanu, who is ranked 135th in the world and was given a wildcard to play.
“It took a little bit of adjusting and finding my feet.
“But I’d like to thank everyone for their support in the crucial moments. I enjoyed playing back here.”
Zarazua, who lost in the third round of qualifying, benefited from Alexandrova’s absence and was handed
her main-draw debut at
Wimbledon.
Despite the size of the occasion, she pushed Raducanu in what was a tense performance at times from the home favourite.
But the Briton, who was fired up and showed her passion throughout, had enough quality to eventually come through.
After Zarazua saved a match point on her own serve at 5-2, Raducanu set up another with a superb dash to the net to pick up a drop shot and clinched victory when her opponent put a sliced backhand long.
Raducanu said her love for the sport had returned this summer and the beaming smile which greeted the success signalled her happiness.
“I’m incredibly happy to be back here on court,” added Raducanu, who plays Belgium’s Elise Mertens next.
“I was nervous, I think everyone could see that in my tennis but at the end of the day you have to do whatever it takes to get over the line.
“Honestly, watching the football last night, it was winning ugly – it all counts.”
