Carlos Alcaraz defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner made it through the first round of Wimbledon with difficulty.
Alcaraz beat 269th-ranked qualifier Mark Lajal of Estonia 7-6(7/3), 7-5, 6-2, coming from behind in the first two sets.
“He played a very good match, he obviously surprised me a little because I didn’t have the chance to see him play much,” said Alcaraz as quoted by AFP, Tuesday.
READ ALSO : Daniil Medvedev Accepts Invitation to Paris
The 21-year-old is chasing his fourth Grand Slam title and hopes to become the sixth man after Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively.
“Stepping on this court, Center Court Wimbledon, it is the most beautiful court I have ever played on,” said Alcaraz.
“I still get nervous when I play here. I played 45 minutes here on Thursday and this is the first time I’ve felt nervous in training. I’m happy and I’m a person who is honored to play on this court.”
The Spaniard was asked if he thought back to last year, when he beat Djokovic in a thrilling five-set final to win his first Wimbledon title.
“A little but it’s a new year, a completely different tournament, I have to focus on my game,” said Carlos Alcaraz.
“When I walk around, I get goosebumps. I remember last year and it was an amazing feeling.”
Sinner overcame a mid-match wobble to see off German Yannick Hanfmann’s first challenge 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a match against 2021 finalist and compatriot Matteo Berrettini.
“He played really well, he served well, I missed a few shots,” said Sinner, last year’s semifinalist.
“First half games are never easy and in the next half I have to raise my level. I have a day off and then I need to get my rhythm.”
Sinner appeared on course for an outright win against his 110th-ranked opponent after taking the first two sets.
However, Hanfmann took a 4-0 lead in the third set, sealing it at 6-3, to force the match into a fourth set. Sinner then won the match by recording 47 winners and 30 unforced errors.
In an on-court interview Sinner was asked what it felt like to play in the tournament as world number one.
“First of all, it is a great privilege and honor to be in that position, and there is no better place to play as the world number one player,” said the 22-year-old.
“It’s a great feeling but every game starts at 0-0 and every opponent wants to win, just like me. All the games are at a very high level, which is what you all want to see.”
