LONDON – Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had to go through four or more hours of back and forth shifts on Centre Court against much older and much less skilled Fabio Fognini before appearing in a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday.
No. 2 seed Alcaraz had a much tougher time than anyone had expected before expanding his current winning streak to a career-high 19 games.
First of all, consider Alcaraz, 22 years old and the latest Grand Slam champion at the French Open three weeks ago.
Fognini is 38 years old and is also considering plans to retire after this season, never past the third round at All England Club in 15 appearances, reaching the quarterfinals of a major tournament only once at the 2011 French Open. He also ranked 138th on Monday, entering the 2025 0-6 record.
Oh, then there’s this: The reigning men’s champion of Wimbledon was beaten in the first round the following year, with Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 and Manuel Santana in 1967.
Alcaraz had a Monday that appears to be less than his best, far from the form he displayed during his epic five-set, 5½ hour comeback victory, due to the championship at Roland Garos.
He double fell nine times. He faced a 21 breakpoint with conviction difficulties. He made a forced error at 62 years old than the winner.
There was a moment when he looked at the coach of 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and screamed at him to make it seem as if Fegnini could continue playing until he was 50 years old.
Fognini nodded towards his guest box as Alcaraz pushed the forehand to give in to the fourth set. There, his close associates stood to take photos with their cell phones. At that moment, things were picturesquely perfect for Fognini.
But at the start of the fifth time – the first time the previous year’s male champion was pushed for the first time in the first round since Roger Federer in 2010, Alcaraz readjusted himself.
When the Spaniard broke to lead 2-0 in the final set with the backhand volley winner, he pointed towards the stands, threw an uppercut and cried out “Vamos!” In the next game, he saved a pair of breakpoints. Then, before the match was suspended for more than 10 minutes as the crowd got sick amid the record-breaking hotspot on Wimbledon’s first day.
When they resumed, Alkaraz continued to impose himself and oust fognini the rest of the way.
