- Google wins delay in opening Android app store to rivals
- Martin takes dominant pole for Australian MotoGP
- Royal rest for cancer patient king on first day of Australia tour
- Man arrested after throwing suspected petrol bombs at Japan ruling party HQ: media
- Verstappen ends long wait for pole at US Grand Prix sprint qualifying
- 'Heartbreaking': Dad, fans grieve Liam Payne's death
- Ligue 1 leaders Monaco held by Lille in stalemate
- Record high Colombian cocaine production in 2023: UN
- McLaren boss blasts rival's comments on Norris as "tasteless"
- El Salvador activists acquitted after contentious trial
- FIA inspect Red Bull car's to check controversial set-up device
- Power plant failure triggers blackout across cash-strapped Cuba
- US budget deficit widens to $1.8 tn, third highest on record
- Google wins delay opening Android app store to rivals
- Global markets mixed as investors weigh earnings and China GDP
- Harris targets Trump's age after report of exhaustion
- Guirassy saves Dortmund's blushes against St Pauli
- 'Completely crazy' as Lavreysen wins record 15th world cycling title
- Animal rights activists sentenced for Buckingham Palace fountain protest
- Cuba experiences nationwide blackout after power plant failure
- Sainz puts Verstappen, Norris in shade at US Grand Prix practice
- New Zealand edge West Indies to reach Women's T20 World Cup final
- UK's Lammy warns China over support for Russia in Ukraine
- Global coral bleaching event biggest on record: US agency
- UK activist jailed for dyeing fountain outside Buckingham Palace red
- Relief, anxiety in Israel after Sinwar's killing
- Wawrinka, 39, ousts top seed Rublev to reach Stockholm semis
- Harris, Trump descend on Michigan amid blockbuster early voting
- West Indies' Dottin restricts New Zealand to 128-9 in World Cup semi
- Sinwar's killing boosts Netanyahu but still no sign of war ending
- High court throws Kenya deputy president replacement into disarray
- Father of One Direction star Payne arrives in Argentina
- Guardiola says 'part of me will leave' when Begiristain quits Man City
- 'Timebomb' ship highlights hazard of dangerous cargoes
- France charges SUV driver with murder for running over cyclist
- Ex-Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons 'groped' by Al-Fayed
- Italy judges reject first migrant detentions in Albania
- What next for Hamas after Sinwar's killing?
- Postecoglou urges inconsistent Spurs to change perceptions
- UN force says 'widespread destruction' in south Lebanon
- New Zealand on America's Cup cusp after double triumph
- New Zealand's Ravindra makes father proud with 'special' Test ton
- Stock markets mixed as investors weigh earnings, China GDP
- Ten Hag slams 'fairy tales and lies' as Man Utd boss comes out fighting
- Hamas mourns Sinwar, vows no hostage release until war ends
- Forest boss Nuno hit with three-game ban
- 'The killings continue': Sinwar death brings no respite for Gazans
- Gaza 'hell on Earth' for one million children: UN
- Maresca 'very happy' with start of Chelsea career
- New Zealand extends America's Cup lead on Britain
Alcaraz wins Wimbledon opener as Murray wants 'closure'
Carlos Alcaraz defeated 269th-ranked qualifier Mark Lajal at the start of his Wimbledon title defence on Monday as Andy Murray decided whether or not to call a halt to his All England Club singles career.
As action got under way, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was heading home after withdrawing from the tournament with a shoulder injury.
Alcaraz, still only 21, is chasing his fourth Grand Slam title and hopes to become just the sixth man after Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.
Opening the Centre Court programme, the Spanish star recovered from a break down in each of the first two sets to see off the dreadlocked Lajal 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-2.
"He played a really good match, he obviously surprised me a little bit because I didn't have the chance to see him play a lot," said Alcaraz.
This time last year, Lajal was losing a first-round match at a second-tier Challenger event in the United States and earning a paltry $780 -- on Monday he banked $75,000.
Two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabalenka, ranked third in the world, is one of eight players to have pulled out since the draw was made.
She had admitted she was not 100 percent fit after suffering a shoulder injury at the Berlin Open and has been replaced by Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva.
"Heartbroken to have to tell you all that I won't be able to play The Championships this year," wrote 26-year-old Sabalenka on X.
Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev reached the second round and admitted he was happy not to be playing on the All England Club's famed Centre Court.
Medvedev, a semi-finalist last year, hit 16 aces in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States.
"I've still never lost on Court One so hopefully I can play a lot more matches on this court," said Medvedev.
"Last year I said it was unfortunate I had to go to Centre Court for the semis and I lost."
Eighth seed Casper Ruud, who has never been past the second round, saw off Alex Bolt of Australia in straight sets and revealed he had been laid low by a parasite since reaching the French Open semi-finals.
"I was mostly in bed for 10, 11 days, which was not what I was kind of hoping for," said the Norwegian.
Three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka won his Wimbledon opener at the age of 39, beating British wild card Charles Broom 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
"I think there is enough reason to keep playing. I don't want to go home," said Wawrinka, who made his debut at Wimbledon in 2005.
World number one Jannik Sinner, a semi-finalist in 2023, starts against Yannick Hanfmann, the German world number 110.
The 22-year-old Sinner won a maiden Slam at the Australian Open and then deposed Djokovic as world number one, becoming the first Italian man to reach such heights.
Sinner arrives in London having captured his first grass-court title in Halle.
- 'Feel that buzz' -
Murray, champion in 2013 and 2016, will reveal later Monday if he will play singles at his farewell Wimbledon.
The former world number one underwent surgery to remove a cyst on his spine last week and admitted he still has not fully recovered feeling in his leg.
Murray, whose 2013 triumph ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's champion at Wimbledon, is due to face Czech world number 39 Tomas Machac on Tuesday.
If he cannot make that date, he still hopes to play doubles with brother Jamie before bringing the curtain down on his Wimbledon career, which began 19 years ago.
"I'm hoping maybe for a bit of closure. I just want the opportunity to play one more time out there hopefully on Centre Court and feel that buzz," said 37-year-old Murray.
Elsewhere on opening day, women's second seed and US Open champion Coco Gauff takes on American compatriot Caroline Dolehide.
- 'Need luck' -
Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka tackles Diane Parry of France in her first appearance at Wimbledon since 2019.
Osaka, who only returned to the tour at the start of the season afer maternity leave, is ranked at 113 and required a wild card to play at Wimbledon.
At the recent French Open, she gave world number one Iga Swiatek a mighty scare, holding a match point in their second-round clash before the Pole prevailed.
Y.Nakamura--AMWN