Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame Fabio Fognini’s relentless pressure on the most scorching opening day at The Championships, emerging victorious in a five-set thriller that lasted four hours and 37 minutes. The intense heat seemed to take its toll on both players, but Alcaraz’s trademark grit and shotmaking ultimately led him to triumph.
Alcaraz, who arrived in London with an 18-match winning streak, faced his toughest test yet as the 38-year-old Fognini, competing for his final Wimbledon appearance, pushed him to his limits. The Italian’s aggressive baseline hitting forced Alcaraz into a tough battle, but the Spanish star rallied from a break down in the third set and dominated the fifth set to seal the win.
Alcaraz’s victory marked his 14th straight win in the fifth set, a record that has seen him defeat top opponents like Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros final. The young champion now holds a perfect 18-0 record in first-round majors and extends his winning streak at Wimbledon to 15 matches.
In the post-match ceremony, Alcaraz praised Fognini for an incredible match, saying he was sad that the Italian’s career had come to an end but happy to have shared the court with him. The World No. 2 will face British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the next round, looking to continue his quest for a sixth title of the season and potentially become just the second man in history to win the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in consecutive years.
Source: https://www.atptour.com/en/news/alcaraz-fognini-wimbledon-2025-monday