Carlos Alcaraz vs Mark Lajal
Monday, July 1st, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz -5000 / Mark Lajal +870 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The number three seed Carlos Alcaraz will face Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal in the first round of the 2024 Wimbledon. The match is scheduled for Monday, July 1st, 2024. Here's our Carlos Alcaraz vs Mark Lajal prediction.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Mark Lajal Preview
Carlos Alcaraz will start the defense of his Wimbledon title on Monday at 1:30 p.m. local time. He'll have the honor of opening play on Centre Court against an unfamiliar opponent in Mark Lajal. The Spaniard did not get sufficient game time during the warm-up tournament at Queen's over a week ago, as he lost to British lefty Jack Draper in the second round. The defeat had a direct effect on his ranking because he dropped to World No. 3 for failing to defend champion points the event. Therefore, he is the number three seed at the Wimbledon Championships and is the same half as World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Mark Lajal is not a household name on the ATP Tour. That is because the 21-year-old plays predominantly on the Challenger circuit, which is the ATP's second tier. He has one title at that level, which he won at the Little Rock Challenger last season. He is ranked a lowly 262nd in the world rankings, although he successfully qualified for the main draw on his debut.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Mark Lajal Head-To-Head
• Alcaraz and Lajal have never met at any level before this match. So, this first-round match at Wimbledon will be their first official meeting.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Mark Lajal Prediction
Alcaraz went 12-0 on grass last summer. Any ambitions of replicating have been extinguished after Jack Draper put a stain on his grass-court campaign at Queen's. Lajal is set for his Grand Slam main draw debut after a flawless qualifying campaign where he swept aside his opponents with his massive serve. He is the same age as Alcaraz, but rankings and talent are unequal. The Spaniard is part of the elite coterie in men's tennis, and I can't see any other result but a routine win for the third seed.