Alcaraz serves out wide then pummels a forehand into the corner. Lajal tries to lob the ball back into play, but it lands wide – after some time! 15-0.

A backhand return from Lajal can’t beat the net. 30-0. Another backhand miss from the world No 262, this one long. 40-0.

Scorching forehand winner from Alcaraz this time, and he holds to love!

Since being broken two games ago, he hasn’t dropped a point.

The pair trade forehands, before Lajal dumps a backhand into the net. 0-15.

The Estonian then finds the T with a promising serve, before stepping in on his forehand... only to hook it into the tramlines! 0-30.

A deep return from Alcaraz is right at Lajal’s feet, and he has no answer. 0-40 – triple break point.

Alcaraz curls a forehand right into the far corner, and Lajal – on the run – propels his reply long.

Alcaraz with an instant break-back, and to love no less!

Lajal is determined to disrupt the script here early on. Each of the three Alcaraz service games have seen the underdog pile the pressure on, while he’s held his own serve with ease so far.

And you can’t say he doesn’t deserve that break, with the speed and depth of his groundstrokes consistently surprising and currently overwhelming the Spaniard. There are still plenty of flashes of Alcaraz’s brilliance that suggest he’ll turn this round but how will the champion respond to this early setback?

Alcaraz gives up the first point. 0-15.

The pair then trade backhands, then forehands, with Alcaraz eventually firing long. 0-30.

Alcaraz gets this forehand right, though, whipping a crosscourt winner! 15-30.

He tries to move in on a serve, but the backhand reply is fizzed back and lands right at his feet in the service box... Alcaraz tries to flick a forehand half-volley over, but he can’t. 15-40 – double break point....

Another great crosscourt forehand from Alcaraz, and this time he gets the forehand half-volley right! Lovely. 30-40.

Lajal sends Alcaraz running with a fine forehand, and the defending champion’s attempted forehand pass is wide!!

There’s the break for the underdog!!

*denotes next server

Lajal gets up and running with an unanswerable serve. 15-0.

Now a good one down the T, but his forehand into the corner is just long – or is it? He’ll challenge this one... and rightly so! It caught the line. 30-0.

Massive serve now, sending Alcaraz off balance, and the Spaniard is unable to get anything on a backhand. 40-0.

A brief forehand battle ensues, and Lajal again finds the corner! A great hold to love.

This is a fair Centre Court crowd. They’re clearly here to see Alcaraz and are suitably appreciative when he shows off the power, touch and athleticism that makes him one of the world’s best players but a thunderous Lajal cross-court return winner off an Alcaraz second serve is also greeted with gasps, oohs and loud applause.

The disguised drop shot to hold serve in the third game there may just be a sign that Alcaraz is starting to properly find his feet after a slow-ish start.

Alcaraz with a fine serve as he moves to 15-0, but Lajal’s return is a great one on the next point; the qualifier sends Alcaraz out wide with a backhand, and the Spaniard has no answer. 15-15.

Another fine serve by Alcaraz, however, and Lajal’s forehand is off target. 30-15.

Positive hitting from both men now. Lajal draws Alcaraz in with a backhand slice, before trying to lob the world No 3. But Alcaraz puts away the smash. 40-15.

Double-fault from Alcaraz – one serve wide, one in the net. 40-30.

Alcaraz seals the hold with a signature drop shot – his first of the day!

Lajal finds a second serve, and Alcaraz’s backhand return has nice pace and depth on it. As such, Lajal’s own backhand is dragged wide. 0-15.

Alcaraz then whips a forehand with the ball bouncing right up at him, and he arches it long. 15-15.

Great backhand return from Alcaraz, who moves his feet well to set it up, before sending it deep into the corner. Lajal can’t make the return. 15-30.

Lajal nudges a first serve just long, but his second effort is better, and Alcaraz frames a forehand well wide. 30-30.

Good one-two punch from Lajal, who moves to the net and puts Alcaraz under pressure. The defending champion’s attempted backhand pass can’t beat the net. 40-30.

Another good serve from Lajal, and Alcaraz’s forehand is low in the net.

A hold for the underdog!

*denotes next player to serve

Here we go. Alcaraz to serve first.

He finds the net on his first serve but makes his second. Lajal pushes back a central backhand, and Alcaraz’s own backhand is shoveled into the tramlines. 0-15.

Another fault by Alcaraz, who again makes his second serve. Another backhand costs him, this one going into the net. 0-30.

A third successive fault on the first serve, but after Alcaraz makes his second serve, Lajal propels a forehand long. 15-30.

A slightly longer rally ensues on the next point, and again Lajal goes long with a groundstroke. 30-30.

Brilliant serve in the far corner, producing a puff of chalk for an ace. 40-30.

And there’s the hold! A good little comeback within the first game for Alcaraz!

Last year’s men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon was a great a tennis match as you’ll ever see. And the Wimbledon crowds have clearly taken Alcaraz into their hearts after his astonishing victory.

As defending champion, he has the honour of beginning proceedings on Centre Court on the opening day and he just received a rapturous reception as he walked out alongside opponent Mark Lajal. A standing ovation, in fact. Well deserved for the likeable Spaniard.

Can he now pick up where he left off on the SW19 grass last year against a, frankly, overmatched opponent?