Photo Source: Camera Sport
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday June 30, 2025
On the hottest Day 1 of Wimbledon on record, things got heated in Centre Court, as Carlos Alcaraz was forced to five sets by Fabio Fognini in his first-round match, a thrilling Centre Court affair that took over four and a half hours to complete.
Credit 38-year-old Fognini for playing brilliant tennis and pushing Alcaraz to the brink, but five-set matches are the domain of the Spaniard, and he took care of business in the end, improving to 14-1 in deciding fifth sets at the majors to win, 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1.
Four hours and 37 minutes of entertaining tennis send Alcaraz to the second round and Fognini to the twilight, his last Wimbledon match now officially in the books. The Italian was given a proper sendoff as he exited the fabled court, the fans showering him with hearty applause as his wife Flavia Penetta and the couple’s daughter cheered courtside.
“To be honest, I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon,” Alcaraz said on court after the tussle. “The level he has shown proves that he can still play another three or four years. Unbelievable, I have to give him the credit for a great match. He’s a great player.
“I’m just a little bit sad that he has probably played his last Wimbledon, and I’m just happy to have shared the court with him.”
Fognini finishes his career with an 18-15 record at Wimbledon. He is the third oldest man in this year’s Wimbledon draw, younger only than Gael Monfils and Novak Djokovic.
Tears for Fabio
The Italian told reporters that he couldn't help but shed a tear in the locker room when the moment set in.
"I was really emotional. I have to be honest, I cry in the locker room," he said. "Because, as I say, I didn't expect to play five set against him. I have to be honest. The way I was coming here, I [had] no expectations because since I start the year this year, after the injury, I was playing really bad. I didn't win so many matches."
Alcaraz didn’t bring his best tennis and was taken off guard by the creative game of Fognini, who rallied from 4-2 down to take the second set, then took the final five games of the fourth to force a decider.
But true to form Alcaraz was invincible in the fifth as he stretches his Wimbledon winning streak to 15 and his overall current winning streak to 19. Alcaraz has not lost since falling to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final, and he is bidding to become the fifth man in history to complete a Wimbledon three-peat, along with Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz: I must improve
The two-time champion admitted that he felt the nerves as he took the court for his first Wimbledon match of the year.
“Playing the first match on Centre Court, the first match of any tournament, is never easy,” he told the crowd. “I’ve been practising pretty well; I’ve been playing on grass really well. But Wimbledon is special. It’s different. I could feel the difference between Wimbledon and the other tournaments. I just tried to play my best, to deal with the nerves the best I could. But I would say I can be better. I have to improve."
More to follow….