Carlos Alcaraz topped qualifier Mark Lajal to open his Wimbledon title defense as Andy Murray will play only in men’s doubles.
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ALCARAZ TOPS LAJAL TO GET WIMBLEDON TITLE DEFENSE GOING
Alcaraz was tested in stretches but held on post a 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2 win over Estonian qualifier Lajal on Monday.
Furthermore, the 21-year-old Spaniard was forced to a tie-break in the opening set and was behind 0-2 in the second.
However, Alcaraz turned the tables around in the third set to dispose of his opponent.
“I still get nervous when I am playing here. I played for 45 minutes here on Thursday and it is the first time I get nervous practicing,” the world No.2 said.
“I’m glad and I am a privileged guy to play on this court,” he added.
Alcaraz struck 44 total winners, as he won 92% of the points on his first serve in the third set.
ANDY MURRAY TO PLAY IN MEN’S DOUBLES ONLY, NOT SINGLES
Furthermore, Andy Murray has officially informed tournament organizers that he will only play in the men’s doubles at the All England Club.
The 37-year-old decided after he withdrew from his supposed first-round men’s singles match against Thomas Machac.
Murray would later confirm that he had played his final singles match at Wimbledon.
“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” Murray’s team said in a statement.
Murray is “extremely disappointed” but has confirmed he will play in the doubles with his brother Jamie.
Murray’s team added that the former world No.1 “looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”
OSAKA WINS OPENING WIMBLEDON MATCH IN 6 YEARS AS GAUFF TRIUMPHS, TOO
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka finally won an opening Wimbledon match in six years after posting a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Diane Parry.
It was a big deal for Osaka, a US Open and Australian Open champion but currently world No.113 after being off the tour for 15 months.
Osaka just returned on the tour in January.
“I’m just really excited to be here. It’s funny, because Wimbledon was the first tournament I watched after pregnancy,” Osaka said.
“I was looking at photos of myself in the hospital. It’s really cool to be here now,” she added, referring to the time she gave birth to her daughter Shai.
Shai turns a year older on Tuesday.
Moreover, reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff also triumphed by beating Caroline Dolehide, 6-1, 6-2.
The All-England still had good memories for the 20-year-old Gauff, whose first Slam appearance came when she was 15 years old – the youngest qualifier – in 2019.
“Wimbledon is the place – I wouldn’t say where the dream started,” Gauff said.
“But maybe where I believed the dream was possible,” she added.
