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World Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua Named Ambassador for Riyadh Season 

Boxing - Matchroom Press Conference - Wembley Arena, London, Britain - June 26, 2024 Anthony Joshua during the press conference Action Images via Reuters
Boxing - Matchroom Press Conference - Wembley Arena, London, Britain - June 26, 2024 Anthony Joshua during the press conference Action Images via Reuters
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World Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua Named Ambassador for Riyadh Season 

Boxing - Matchroom Press Conference - Wembley Arena, London, Britain - June 26, 2024 Anthony Joshua during the press conference Action Images via Reuters
Boxing - Matchroom Press Conference - Wembley Arena, London, Britain - June 26, 2024 Anthony Joshua during the press conference Action Images via Reuters

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Advisor Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Al-Sheikh announced an agreement with British world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua to be an ambassador for the Riyadh Season.

Joshua will contribute to promoting a wide range of global boxing events during the season, in addition to attending a variety of events during Riyadh Season, said the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday.

Al Al-Sheikh said: "We are delighted to announce the selection of Anthony Joshua, one of the most distinguished boxers in the world of boxing, as an ambassador for boxing for Riyadh season, to contribute to further expanding the reach of this sport."

Joshua said: "I've seen first-hand both through competing and attending events in Saudi Arabia just how impactful Riyadh season can be, so I am excited to start this cooperation."

"When you think of Riyadh Season, you think of best-in-class events, and I am looking forward now to playing my part in enhancing that reputation further," he added.

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Alcaraz Opens Wimbledon with Straight-set Win, Sabalenka and Azarenka Withdraw with Injuries

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Alcaraz Opens Wimbledon with Straight-set Win, Sabalenka and Azarenka Withdraw with Injuries

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had goosebumps walking onto Centre Court before his opening match at Wimbledon on Monday, a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2 win over qualifier Mark Lajal.
Lajal proved to be something of a speedbump for Alcaraz, who acknowledged that his 269th-ranked Estonian opponent “surprised me a little bit" on Day 1 at the All England Club.
Alcaraz, who won his third major championship at the French Open three weeks ago, defeated Novak Djokovic in last year’s final on the grass at Wimbledon but said he was still nervous before Monday's match.
“When I walk into the court, I got goosebumps. I remembered last year. It was a great feeling," the 21-year-old Spaniard said in his on-court interview. “But I try not to think about it. It’s a new year — totally different tournament. I have to be focused on my game just to play at the same level as last year if I want to repeat the same (success) as last year."
Earlier, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka both pulled out of the tournament because of respective shoulder injuries.
Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, said she was “heartbroken” to announce her withdrawal after it became clear in a practice session that she wasn't ready.
The No. 3 seed was seen as top contender at the All England Club, which has had seven different women win the title in the last seven years.
Azarenka is also a two-time champion at Melbourne Park.
Ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari was among the early winners on Monday, and said after beating McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-1 that the women's draw is wide open.
“We could name like 20, 25 girls that could win the tournament right now,” Sakkari said.
Seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini, the French Open runner-up last month, got past the first round at Wimbledon for the first time on her fourth try. The Italian beat Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-3.
On the men's side, fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Aleksander Kovacevic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and eighth-seeded Casper Ruud defeated Alex Bolt 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4. Unseeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov eliminated No. 19 Nicolas Jarry 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.