Defending champion Alcaraz sees off spirited Lajal to reach Wimbledon second round

Carlos Alcaraz, the third seed, faced a tough challenge in his Wimbledon title defense against Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal.

Despite dropping serve in the opening set and facing an early break in the second,

Alcaraz managed to battle back and secure a 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2 victory to advance to the second round on Monday.

Alcaraz, who recently won his first French Open title, showed resilience and determination as he fought back from behind in both the first and second sets.

With the momentum on his side, he continued to dominate in the third set, ultimately closing out the match with a superb backhand crosscourt winner.

Reflecting on the match, Alcaraz acknowledged Lajal's strong performance and expressed his excitement about the prospect of facing him again in the future.

He also expressed his satisfaction with securing his first win on Centre Court this year.

Alcaraz expressed that he continues to experience a slight sense of nervousness at the venue where he emerged victorious against Novak Djokovic in the final a year ago.

Upon setting foot on this court, he remarked, "This court is the most beautiful one I've ever played on. Even now, I feel a bit jittery when I'm competing here."

Reflecting on a recent practice session lasting 45 minutes on Thursday, he mentioned, "It was the first time I felt nervous during practice. I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have the opportunity to compete on this court."

Acknowledging the start of a new year and a different tournament, he emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on his game.

As he strolled around, he admitted to experiencing goosebumps, reminiscing about the previous year and the exhilarating emotions it brought.