Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 3 seed, was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury as the tournament kicked off on Monday. This came as a disappointment to many fans and overshadowed the early results of the tournament. Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, expressed her sadness at having to pull out after realizing during a practice session that she was not fit to compete. Her absence left many wondering if Andy Murray would be able to participate in the tournament.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who recently claimed his third major championship at the French Open, faced off against qualifier Mark Lajal of Estonia on Day 1. Alcaraz, who defeated Novak Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final, was eager to make his mark once again on the grass courts of the All England Club. Meanwhile, past Grand Slam winners Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu were also slated to play matches on the opening day.
Maria Sakkari, the No. 9 seed, emerged as an early winner at Wimbledon, triumphing over McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-1. Sakkari acknowledged that the women’s draw was wide open, with numerous contenders capable of winning the tournament. No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini, the French Open runner-up, secured her spot in the next round by defeating Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-3. On the men’s side, top seeds Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud also advanced with convincing victories.
The day’s matches included defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu on Centre Court. Alcaraz, fresh off his triumph at the French Open, faced off against Mark Lajal, while Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open winner, dealt with injuries and a last-minute opponent change. Gauff, who clinched the U.S. Open title last year, closed out the day with an all-American matchup against Caroline Dolehide.
Overall, Wimbledon’s opening day provided fans with thrilling matches and surprising outcomes. As the tournament progresses, tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more exciting moments on the courts of the prestigious All England Club.