Carlos Alcaraz escapes first-round scare as Fabio Fognini tests his limits

Carlos Alcaraz said he was proud to have squeezed into the second round after struggling with his nerves and the heat on Centre Court during his dramatic five-set win against Fabio Fognini on Monday.

In searing temperatures, Alcaraz started his pursuit of a third consecutive Wimbledon title by outlasting the veteran Italian 7-5, 6-7 (1), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 after 4hr 37min on-court.

“I’m getting mature and I know how to deal with some situations,” the Spaniard said. “I always say that the champions always find a way. I really want to see myself in that [list] of champions. I really want to put myself like a champion that always finds a way to win.

“I’ve been playing really, really tough matches the last year, the last year in this tournament. Just really proud that I always find a way. Today I did it, even though Fabio was playing great tennis. Just really proud to overcome the problem, to overcome the tough moments.”

Grand slam titles cannot be won on the first day of competition, but they can always be lost. So far in his career. Alcaraz has been brilliant at ensuring that he at least gives himself a chance in every tournament. With this victory, Alcaraz maintains his perfect record of 18 wins and no defeats in the first round of grand slam tournaments. He also has 14 wins and only one defeat in five-set matches.

At 38, Fognini has been a fixture on the tour for much of the past two decades, with a career‑high ranking of No 9 and several monumental wins. This year, however, marks his final season on the tour and simple victories have been difficult to come by. He has lost all six of his ATP main draw matches this year, losing against multiple players ranked outside the top 350. Across the net, Alcaraz is the most in-form player in the sport after establishing an 18-match winning sequence, including titles at the French Open and Queen’s Club. On paper, this match was not supposed to be close.

Despite struggling with his serve early on, Alcaraz appeared to be moving confidently towards victory as he established a 7-5, 4-2 lead. But then, not for the first time, his concentration faltered. He played a dire service game to relinquish the break, and followed up with an error‑strewn start to the third‑set tie‑break. He soon found himself at one-set all and down a break at 2-3 in the third set.

View image in fullscreen Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz stretches for a backhand return. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

“It doesn’t matter that the winning streak that I have right now, that I’ve been playing great on grass, that I have been preparing really well the week before – Wimbledon is different,” Alcaraz said. “I could feel today that I was really nervous at the beginning. Being the first match on Centre Court, it’s a huge privilege for me. Even though I played the first match last year, it feels [like] the first time. I just try to deal with the nerves the best way possible.”

Although Fognini has lost much of his speed in his later years, quality shotmaking remains and the lofty occasion inspired the best of his ball‑striking talents. His forehand was precise and lethal, lasering winners from all parts of the court, he continually closed down the net, volleying spectacularly, and he often matched Alcaraz’s supreme variety of shot with his own deft hand skills.

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Even when Alcaraz established a lead of two sets to one, Fognini refused to let his intensity drop and throughout the fourth set he suffocated Alcaraz’s serve with his spectacular returning. As the match dragged on, and the pair headed for a decider, the world No 2 cut an increasingly distressed figure, repeatedly unloading his frustration on his player box. In the heat, Alcaraz walked gingerly between points. Early in the final set, play was halted after a fan was struggling with the heat, which prompted Alcaraz to sprint over with a bottle of water. “Obviously playing with such a high heat out there is really difficult to deal with sometimes,” Alcaraz said. “Even tougher when you’re playing long matches, long rallies.”

In the middle of some of the most intense months of his young career, which have pushed him to his physical and mental limit, a few efficient, relatively stress-free wins would not hurt Alcaraz.

Although such straightforward matches have evaded him, he continues to show his ability to produce his best tennis when most needed. One set away from a catastrophic first-round defeat, he pulled himself together and closed out an important victory that keeps alive his dream of a Wimbledon hat-trick.

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