A warm welcome - actually, an unprecedentedly warm welcome – to the start of the 138th Championships at Wimbledon, as our sunniest of gentlemen’s champions, Carlos Alcaraz, launches his title defence.

What a delightful way for Carlitos to kick off his bid on Centre Court for a third straight crown as he meets the most swashbuckling of Italian swashbucklers, Fabio Fognini, who might just be making his last piratical appearance at the age of 38.

The duo shared a hug and some friendly words as they bumped into each other at the practice courts and the stage is set for a curtain-raiser full of entertainment and unpredictability.

Alcaraz, though, won’t entertain anything but the certainty of a 19th successive match win, the best sequence of his soaraway career which has just taken in a successful Roland-Garros defence, a bit of partying in Ibiza and then his second coronation as the King of Queen’s.

He was other-worldly in that wondrous clay court duel with Jannik Sinner in Paris, but still makes it sound as if our lawns are where his passion really lies.

“The style that the people bring to the court when they play on grass, I think is so beautiful,” he waxed all poetical. “The sound of the ball. The movement is really tough, but when you get it, it’s kind of…you’re flying!”

Just listening to him, never mind watching him in action, your heart starts soaring, too.

Talking of beauty, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka swears the only thing she knows about her opponent, Carson Branstine, is that “this girl is so beautiful!”

Well, she also ought to be warned that the Canadian world No.194, who’s helped fund her career by doubling as a model, has a bold confidence too.

“Maybe not everyone knows who I am, but I believe I can beat anyone,” Branstine declared, having sent Roland-Garros sensation Lois Boisson packing in Qualifying.

Ah, but Sabalenka is a rare force, the dream trampler. “You lack intensity,” Novak Djokovic teased Aryna on Saturday after gatecrashing her press conference. Which might have been the best joke of the Fortnight.

So, where do you start with all the local interest? You won’t be able to move for British dreamers all over the pristine green. Twenty-three home players in all in the singles, the biggest home battalion in 41 years. Take your pick.

How about Jacob Fearnley, the rocket man of the British game who came here as world No.277 last year and is now No.51, up against the 18-year-old rocket boy of world tennis, Joao Fonseca, whose faithful, whooping Brazilian fan club will turn No.1 Court into the Maracana given half a chance?

Or Katie Boulter facing a Centre Court trial against former world No.2 Paula Badosa, now the No.9 seed, who has an air of vulnerability these days after years of injury bedevilment?

Then, there’s Cam Norrie, a semi-finalist here just three years ago, lest we forget, against the evergreen 37-year-old Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, whose greatest claim to Wimbledon fame remains having to call off his stag do when he rather inconveniently stumbled into the last four in 2019.

Mimi Xu, a 17-year-old Welsh wild card, kept getting messages on Friday, congratulating her on a fantastic first round draw, but she had no idea who her texters were on about. “Oh my gosh, what is the draw? Who am I playing?!” she responded frantically. When learning it was a certain Emma Raducanu, the fuss became clear.

“For her, it’s one where there’s nothing to lose. I remember when I had my first Wimbledon here and I was 18. It’s a great feeling. You just feel completely fearless,” mused Emma, whose extraordinary, four-year odyssey makes her sound like a gnarled veteran at 22.

There’s an even younger Briton in action than Mimi in the shape of 16-year-old wild card Hannah Klugman, who can take the quick hop from home to enjoy her big day out against Leylah Fernandez, Raducanu’s opponent in the 2021 US Open final.

So much to enjoy, everywhere, but please do be careful. On No.2 Court, it may be advisable to ditch the Panamas and don tin hats and sun block while Taylor Fritz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard go about their big booming business.

Fritz, fresh from his fourth Eastbourne triumph, has crashed down 371 aces this season and his young 6ft 8in French opponent 274. Blimey, as if it wasn’t hot enough already out there…