Carlos Alcaraz began the defence of his Wimbledon title on Monday as he fought through a challenge from an Estonian qualifier with blond dreadlocks piled atop his head.

The third seed came through a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2 winner over Mark Lajal, whose sky-high hairstyle managed to approximate the silhouette of the tournament trophy.

The 269th-ranked challenger managed to push the Spanish third seed in the first two sets but was unable to pierce the Alcaraz armour in a scratchy win for the Spaniard.

Alcaraz secured the victory on his first match point, finishing with a winner to the corner in just under two and a half hours against a fellow 21-year-old who is younger by a week.

“He played a really good match and surprised me a little bit,” the holder said. “I’ve not seen him around much but I expect to play him again.

“I’m happy to get through my first win on Centre Court. This is the most beautiful court that I’ve played on. 

“I got goosebumps walking out even for a practice hit last Thursday; it was the first time I’ve been nervous before a practice.”

The Spaniard said his focus is on the future, not his past title. “I try not to think of the memories, this is a new year and a different tournament.”

Last year’s semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev, the fifth seed, beat American Alexsandar Kovacevic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, relishing the change of surface from clay to grass.

“My level is higher on grass than on clay, but hard courts is the surface where I feel the most confident, where I know I can win whatever happens,” Medvedev said.

“I played very good last year in Wimbledon. and I played a very good match today. 

“I’m feeling great. I’m looking forward. I need to keep going. It’s going to be a tough, tough road. I will try to go all the way.”

Eighth seed Casper Ruud was among the first to advance as he put out Australian Alex Bolt 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4, coming through on his sixth match point, a service winner.

“There were two tricky games at the end and I’m glad I won one of them to close out the match,” the Norwegian said,

“These grass courts are so perfect, it seems a shame to ruin them, I tried to be light on my feet.”

The three-time Grand Slam finalist has done most of his best work on clay and is not afraid to admit to his shortcomings.

“There is not too much pressure on me or expectations on myself. But every time I step onto a court I want to win.”

Tenth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov advanced  past Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, firing 45 winners to 13 for his Serb opponent.  

Canadian No. 121 outsider Denis Shapovalov landed a minor upset as he beat 19th seed Nico Jarry 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.

Shapovalov played the semi-finals here in 2021 but has struggled with injury for the last two seasons.

American Frances Tiafoe, who has lost in the first round here on six of eight previous entries, managed to advance with a 6-7 (5), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 fightback lasting for more than three hours.

Colourful Italian veteran Fabio Fogni defeated French lucky loser Luca Van Assche 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 to next play Ruud, while compatriot and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini moved ahead 7-6 (3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

China’s “Treble Zed” Zhang Zhizhen, a Halle grass semi-finalist, put out French qualifier Maxime janvier 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 in just under two hours.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, at age 39 the oldest man in the field, comfortably saw off No. 248 British wildcard Charlie Broom 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 

The veteran Swiss set up two match points with his 11th ace but needed only one as he unleashed a perfect one-handed backhand winner down the line.

Broom had a brief challenge in the second set, leading 4-1 and 5-2 but unable to inflict any damage as he became the second of 19 Brits entered across the men’s and women’s draws to lose on opening. day.

Wawrinka said he has no intentions of winding down his career voluntarily at the moment.

“I enjoy what I’m doing, I think there is enough reason to keep playing. I don’t want to go home.

“Playing tennis was a dream when I was young. Being a professional athlete was a dream. 

“Now I’m there, there’s no way I’m going to just stop because I am bored of it.

I’m passionate about the sport. 

“I want to keep pushing myself as much as I can and see
where I can go.”

Fellow over-30 Gael Monfils defeated French compatriot Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, with the winner playing here for the first time since 2021.