While injury woes have plagued many of the players who have also hoisted the Challenge Cup in recent years – with question marks over the participation of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – Alcaraz showed he was fighting fit despite a less than ideal build-up to the grasscourt major.
"I played for 45 minutes here on Thursday and it's the first time I get nervous practising. I'm glad and I'm a privileged guy to play on this court.World No 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner suffered a mid-match injury scare after a slip and was briefly troubled by Germany's Yannick Hanfmann before winning 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 to set up a mouth-watering all-Italian clash against 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini.
Sabalenka's withdrawal removed one mighty obstacle for second seed Coco Gauff who concluded Centre Court action on Monday with an impressive 6-1 6-2 defeat of fellow American Caroline Dolehide.Former world No 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka returned to Wimbledon after a five-year absence and came through a topsy-turvy clash against France's Diane Parry, winning 6-1 1-6 6-4.
Twice French Open runner-up Casper Ruud was another player delighted to be back on court after he was hit by a parasitic infection that kept him in bed for almost two weeks following his run to the Roland Garros semifinals last month.