London, England) – Roland Garros finalist, the Norwegian Casper Ruud did not play the preparatory tournaments at Wimbledon, opting only for exhibitions on grass, and began his participation in the third Grand Slam of the season with a victory in four sets. The current world number 4 beat the French from the quali Laurent Lokoli by 6/1, 5/7, 6/4 and 6/3.

At 24, Ruud is making his fourth appearance in the Wimbledon main draw and has never made it past the second round. His next rival will be British guest Liam Broady, a 29-year-old left-hander ranked 142nd, who used all his experience on grass to beat Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-1, 6-3, 7-5.

Who did not have the same luck on this first day of the tournament was Félix Auger-Aliassime. World number 12, the Canadian was overtaken by the American Michael Mmoh, 119th in the rankings and who entered the table as a lucky-loser, with partials of 7/6 (7-4), 6/7 ( 4-7 ), 7/6 (7-4) and 6/4.

Alassime was knocked out in the opening matches at Roland Garos and Wimbledon and hasn’t played any ATP matches in the past three weeks, playing only exhibitions. Mmoh, meanwhile, will face German Quali Maximilian Marterer, 170th in the standings, with partials of 7/5, 6/7 (8-10), 6/3 and 6/4. Their only previous encounter was at qualifying Roma in 2017, won by the German in straight sets.

Hurkacz also advances, Rublev and Musetti meet rivals
Another top 20 on court was Hubert Hurkacz, 18th in the standings and semi-finalist in 2021. The Pole beat Spaniard Albert Ramos 6/1, 6/4 and 6/4. His next rival is Briton Jan Choinski, 164th in the 5/7, 7/6 (7-4), 6/2, 6/2 standings.

Also defined are the next rivals of Andrey Rublev and Lorenzo Musetti, who won in the morning. Rublev will have a Russian duel against Aslan Karatsev, who beat 19-year-old Frenchman Luca van Assche 6/7 (4-7), 6/4, 6/2, 6/4. Musetti faces Spaniard Jaume Munar, who beat American John Isner 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.