Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray overcame slow starts to rally to victory in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday.
Alcaraz, a potential quarterfinal opponent for Djokovic, came back from two sets to one down to defeat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
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The 19-year-old fired 30 aces and 73 winners in a dazzling display of shot-making to win 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
A moment of mischief from @andy_murray 😉#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/DM4rAfpVsD
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2022
“Last year, I played five sets in the first round here as well so this shows how much I like grass,” joked Alcaraz.
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Two-time champion Andy Murray also made it through, coming from a set down to see off Australia’s James Duckworth, who hasn’t registered a single win in 2022.
Murray won 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
“I’m getting on a bit now so don’t know how many more chances I’ll get to play on Centre Court,” said the 35-year-old.
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Around two hours of play was lost on Monday due to rain – and 10 matches cancelled.
Another landmark for Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic became the first player to win 80 matches at all four Grand Slams as he made a successful start to his Wimbledon title defence.
"Let's get to 100!"
A buoyant @DjokerNole reacts to his latest #Wimbledon victory #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/JwfjRhmvAc
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2022
Six-time champion and top seed Djokovic saw off South Korea’s Kwon Soo-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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But the 20-time Grand Slam winner was made to work after falling a break down in the opening two sets against his 81st-ranked opponent.
“Now we have got to 80 wins, let’s get to 100,” said Djokovic.
Emma Raducanu shines on Centre Court
US Open champion Emma Raducanu beat Alison van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4, much to the delight of a partisan home crowd on Centre Court.
First Centre Court appearance. First Centre Court win.
A dream start for @EmmaRaducanu. #Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/NmjAO3lvy5
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2022
“It’s an incredibly special feeling to be back at Wimbledon,” said the British No 1, who reached the fourth round last year.
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Also making it to the second round were World No 2 Ons Jabeur and World No 3 Annet Kontaveit.
The Tunisian, a quarterfinalist in 2021, eased past Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1, 6-3 in just 54 minutes under the Court One roof.
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Kontaveit opened her campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 win against Bernarda Pera of the United States.
Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins was the day’s biggest casualty as the seventh-seeded American was knocked out by Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.
