Carlos Alcaraz began his Wimbledon title defense with a dramatic five-set victory over veteran Fabio Fognini, surviving a tense and physically demanding match on Centre Court. The 22-year-old Spaniard, aiming for his third consecutive crown at the All England Club, was pushed to the limit by the retiring Italian, eventually prevailing 7–5, 6–7(5), 7–5, 2–6, 6–1 in a contest that lasted over four hours.
In his post-match interview, Alcaraz acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter, admitting he wasn’t at his best but praised Fognini’s inspired performance. “Playing the first match on Centre Court is never easy,” he said. “I just tried to deal with the nerves the best I could. I know I can be better, and I’ll work on the things that didn’t go well today—especially the serve and return.”
Despite the rollercoaster nature of the match, Alcaraz remained composed in the final set, showcasing the resilience and shot-making that have become hallmarks of his game. He also took a moment during the match to assist a spectator who had collapsed in the stands, handing over a bottle of water while medics arrived—a gesture that highlighted his poise under pressure.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is set to face British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round. Tarvet, who won his Grand Slam debut earlier in the week, will be playing in front of a home crowd, adding another layer of intrigue to the matchup. Alcaraz expressed excitement about the upcoming challenge, noting that each match is a new opportunity to improve and adapt.
As the tournament progresses, Alcaraz’s ability to navigate both the physical and emotional demands of Wimbledon will be closely watched. His opening-round escape may not have been flawless, but it reinforced his reputation as a player who thrives when the stakes are highest.
Alcaraz in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2025
LWWWWWWWWW At the moment ranked no.2, Alcaraz has a compiled 43-5 record in 2025. Alcaraz is now competing in Wimbledon where he defeated the world no.138 Fabio Fognini 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1.
Carlos Alcaraz will come up against the world no.733 Oliver Tarvet in the 2nd round. They have never played each other up to now in top tournaments.
Carlos conquered 5 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open and London. The Spaniard was the runner-up in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell).
The Spaniard won 22 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 11 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Fabio Fognini in 2025
LLWLLLWLLL Ranked world no.138, Fabio played his last match on the 1st of January 1970 when he capitulated to world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1 in the 1st round in Wimbledon (draw).
At the moment, during this season the Italian achieved a 4-15 win-loss record.
Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini faced off 3 times. Their actual head to head record is 3-0 for Alcaraz.
