Carlos Alcaraz's return as reigning Wimbledon champion was done in style. He faced Mark Lajal, whom he got rid of in a match that was decided in three sets: 7-6, 7-5 and 6-2 for the world number 3.
As reigning champion, Carlitos was due to play his first match on Centre Court at the All England Club, which, according to his own statements on the court after the victory that sends him to the 2nd round of the Grand Slam on grass, always makes him nervous even though he already knows what it's like to win the tournament.
"I still have a lot of nerves. Stepping on this Wimbledon Centre Court? it's the most beautiful court I've ever played on. I still have nerves when I play here. I practiced 45 minutes on Thursday. It's the first time I was nervous in practice... just to play here. I'm happy and I'm privileged to play on this court."
Regarding the fact that he is the reigning Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz was asked if that puts him under additional pressure. After all, it is the first time that the Spaniard steps on the grass of the most prestigious tournament of the year being the last winner. In addition, he comes from winning Roland Garros.
"A little bit. But I try not to think about it," Carlitos adds. "It's a new year. A totally different tournament. I have to focus on my game 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 step on the court, I get goosebumps. I remember last year. It was a great feeling."
In the second round of Wimbledon 2024, Carlos Alcaraz will face the winner of the match between Sebastian Ofner and Aleksandar Vukic, which at the time of writing this article is being played.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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