| FIRSTLIGHT | Opening match possibly at dawn |
| DERBYSHIRE | County grudge match possibly leading to anger after quiet (10) |
| CHESS | Game set and match, possibly! (5) |
| NAOMIOSAKA | Tennis star who won her opening match at a tournament in Australia on Jan. 1, her first event since giving birth to a baby girl in July |
| WHITEHORSE | Who's there? I possibly, at the pub (5,5) |
| MUSCARDINE | Think about Jack, possibly, at home getting fungal infection |
| EVENT | Player's opening match (5) |
| UTMOST | Drunk stout catching opening match with Best (6) |
| ALIGHT | Settle down in Arsenal's opening match |
| GAME | Invested millions for Thailand's opening match (4) |
| VOLGOGRAD | Russian city in which England played their opening match in the 2018 World Cup |
| NORWAY | Country the Football Ferns beat in their opening match of the 2023 FIFA World Cup (6) |
| DINER | Guest at banquet possibly at home between duke and queen |
| CROQUET | ... or possibly at this ball game (7) |
| CATERWAUL | Cry of cat, possibly at a curlew? (9) |
| CAP | It goes to one's head, possibly at night (3) |
| DOGS | Followers, possibly at sea (4) |
| UNLATCH | Open, possibly at lunch (7) |
| FERRETOUT | After persistent investigation, find Jill possibly at fault (6,3) |
| METER | Many a new tree possibly at the kerbside (5) |
