Carlos Alcaraz passes Centre Court test from qualifier Mark Lajal to open Wimbledon title defense

With all the pomp and circumstance that comes with being the defending men's singles champion at Wimbledon, there was not too much that was traditional for Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon on Monday as he faced 6-foot-3 qualifier Mark Lajal of Estonia.

A lanky blonde with his hair pulled up into a Sideshow Bob-style ponytail atop is head, the world No. 269—who was born a week after Alcaraz in May of 2003—cut an imposing figure in his Grand Slam main-draw debut opposite the undercooked defending champion, who played just two matches on grass at Queen's Club ahead of returning to the All England Club.

Pressed in the first two sets by the big-serving qualifier, who was up a break first in each of them, Alcaraz nonetheless steadied to pass the unexpected test that Lajal posed, 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2.

Lajal's performance aside, the defending champion, who last year was the first man outside the Big 4 to win the tournament in two decades, also admitted to "a lot" of nerves in his post-match interview.

"Stepping on this court, Centre Court of Wimbledon ... I still get nerves when I'm playing here," Alcaraz confessed. "I practiced 45 minutes on Thursday, and it's the first time that I was nervous on a practice, just because I'm playing here. I'm glad, and I'm privileged, to play here on this court.

"I tried not to think about it. This is a new year, a totally different tournament ... to play at the same level as last year if I want to repeat the same result."

Over two hours and 22 minutes, Alcaraz hammered 44 winners to 28 unforced errors, 20 more than his inexperienced foe. But Lajal's booming serve, which touched north of 130 mph at times, kept him in touching distance of the No.3 seed. So did his forehand, which skidded flat through the court, and more than once, came out on top against Alcaraz's own booming right-handed stroke in groundstroke rallies.

That happened in the fifth game of the first set, where Lajal broke to 30, and in the second game of the second set, where Alcaraz briefly lapsed after failing to take a break point the game prior. But both times, Alcaraz responded immediately: He broke back at love in both games.

"He played a really good match," Alcaraz said afterwards. "He surprised me a little bit because I didn't see him too much playing, practicing, but I think he has the level to go up a lot.

"He's really young, he's my age, so I'm sure I'm going to see him really soon in the tour and play against him more often."

But after pocketing a two-set lead, Alcaraz found his famous freedom. He broke serve twice in set three, and lost just four points on his own delivery, to move safely through and earn an eighth straight Wimbledon win.