Alcaraz, Sinner and Gauff headline opening day action

LONDON : Carlos Alcaraz will be the main attraction on the opening day of Wimbledon as the Spaniard begins his quest to retain the title while later in the day world number one Jannik Sinner will look to put down an early marker in his opening match.

Alcaraz, 21, beat Novak Djokovic to the title a year ago and has since taken his Grand Slam haul to three after winning the French Open earlier this month and despite being seeded three will be favourite to rack up number four.

He will open Centre Court action against Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal in the first of what he hopes will be seven matches to become only the fourth player in the professional era to win four Slams at age 21 or under.

World number 269 Lajal, who is one week younger than Alcaraz, is bidding to become the third man in history to defeat the defending champion in the first round at Wimbledon.

"Obviously I want to put my name on that short list to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year," Alcaraz, who could join Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic by achieving that feat, told reporters.

"I know that it's going to be a really difficult and big challenge for me, but I think I'm ready to do it."

Italy's Sinner, who won this year's Australian Open and knocked Novak Djokovic off the top of the rankings, faces a vastly more experienced opponent in Germany's Yannick Hanfmann.

There will be home interest on Centre Court's opening day schedule with Emma Raducanu returning after missing out last year because of injury.

The 2021 U.S. Open champion, who required a wildcard as she works her way back up the rankings, faces a tough test against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

"For me, I feel like it's just a great opportunity to try to get a good scalp, try