First round and first victories for the top 10 players who took to the field today. Punctual, as tradition dictates, at 2 pm the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz he took the field against the Estonian Marc Lajal, twenty-one year old world no.269 making his debut in a main draw of a Grand Slam. The Murcian won in three sets, struggling a lot during the first two sets and then closing out with a score of 76(3) 75 62.
“He played a great match, he really impressed me. – the world number 2 declared in a crowd at the end of the match – I didn’t know him, but I’m sure I’ll see him again on the circuit soon. Now I have to focus on my game and try to play at the same level as last year.”.
Even though it was a three-set match, it was a hard-fought one in the early stages with Lajal appearing completely unconcerned by the setting of the Centre Court and not at all intimidated by the rival he was facing. Bold and fearless, the Estonian was the first to break the lead in the first set, then repeating with a counter break at the start of the second set. In the third set, the values finally crystallized and Alcaraz won five of the first six games before closing to the applause of the Centre Court.
