Third seed Carlos Alcaraz faced a tough test in his Wimbledon title defense on Monday, but ultimately emerged victorious against Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal, winning 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2. The 21-year-old Spaniard, aiming for his fourth Grand Slam title following his French Open triumph last month, encountered a setback in the first set, dropping serve midway through a high-quality encounter. However, he rallied to clinch the set in a tiebreaker.
Lajal, the world number 269, broke Alcaraz early in the second set, but the advantage was short-lived as Alcaraz immediately broke back to love before taking control of the game in the 11th game. With the momentum firmly in his grasp, Alcaraz surged ahead, securing a two-set lead. He then raised his game further in the third set, breaking Lajal with a brilliant backhand crosscourt winner and ultimately sealing the victory.
Meanwhile, veteran Stan Wawrinka, at the age of 39, continued his impressive Wimbledon run by defeating British wildcard Charles Broom in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. The Swiss three-time Grand Slam champion, the oldest player in the draw, displayed his trademark power, hitting 38 winners on No. 2 Court. Wawrinka’s victory further underscores his remarkable resilience and ability to compete at the highest level despite his age.
