Wimbledon: Alcaraz Overcomes Fognini in Thrilling Five-Setter

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz survives a five-set thriller against Fabio Fognini at Wimbledon, with the Italian's tournament coming to an end.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had a nail-biting start to his Wimbledon campaign, surviving a huge scare against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in a thrilling five-set match.

Alcaraz, who's gunning for a rare three-peat, had been on a blistering 18-match winning streak heading into the tournament. However, the second seed struggled to find his footing at times, leaving fans wondering if he'd be able to overcome Fognini's cunning tactics.

A touch of class from Carlos Alcaraz, who leads the applause for Fabio Fognini 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ZiRn7ya2aJ

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2025

Alcaraz regained his composure when it mattered most, ultimately prevailing in a nail-biter to avoid joining an elite group of defending champions who lost in the first round, including Manuel Santana in 1967 and Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.

After the match, a gracious Alcaraz paid tribute to Fognini, acknowledging the Italian's remarkable career as the 38-year-old played in what would be his final Wimbledon appearance.

“First of all, I don't know why it's his last Wimbledon because the level he has shown, you know, he can still play three or four more years. It's unbelievable,” Alcaraz said.

It wasn’t without a scare, but Carlos Alcaraz remains undefeated in Grand Slam first rounds — now 18–0 ✅#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/uYQdJWqTlV

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 30, 2025

“He's a great player. I'm just a little bit sad ... but just happy to have lived and shared the court many times with him and in the locker room.”

Alcaraz had to dig deep, saving multiple break points in the second and third games, before reclaiming his form with a stunning drop shot and lob combo to take a 5-4 lead. The Centre Court crowd seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as the young champion's usual brilliance resurfaced.

Fognini refused to back down, forcing a tiebreak after Alcaraz surrendered his serve. The Italian veteran capitalized on Alcaraz's momentary lapse at the net, missing a simple passing shot, to level the match at one set apiece and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Alcaraz, who frequently applied iced towels during changeovers to cool down, regained control of the match by taking the third set despite further fluctuations in his form. However, he couldn't sustain the momentum, losing the next set and appearing shaken heading into the decider.

But Alcaraz shifted into top gear in the final set, celebrating with fist pumps as he surged to a 3-0 lead. After a lengthy delay due to a spectator's medical issue, Alcaraz wrapped up the win with ease, closing out the match without further drama.

The inconsistent performance was a shock to fans of the five-time major champion, who had been on a stellar run, winning titles in Rome, the French Open, and Queen's Club. His current winning streak is career-best, making the wobbly display all the more surprising.

“It’s never easy playing the first match on Centre Court, the first match of every tournament,” Alcaraz admitted, offering some context for his uneven start.

“I've been practising pretty well. I've been playing on grass really well but at Wimbledon it's special, it's different. I could feel the difference between Wimbledon and other events. I tried to play my best, to do the best that I could.

“But I can be better. I actually have to prove in the next round. I wanted to be better but, in general, I think it was a great match.”

Alcaraz's next challenge will be against local qualifier Oliver Tarvet, a match he anticipates will be another tough test.

“If he's in the second round, he deserves it. He has a great level. I have to be focused... I'll try to do the things that I didn't work on today, the serve, the return. That's really quite important on grass,” Alcaraz said, highlighting areas he'll focus on to improve his game.