Carlos Alcaraz has won his opening round match at Wimbledon, but he had to go the distance to beat veteran Fabio Fognini.
Alcaraz is the two-time defending Wimbledon champion, and will be bidding to win a third consecutive title this year.
The last Grand Slam match that the Spaniard played was in the Roland Garros final, where Alcaraz came from behind to beat Jannik Sinner.
However, on this occasion it was Alcaraz who was the one being chased in his first round match at Wimbledon against Fognini.
Carlos Alcaraz explains what confuses him about Fabio Fognini
Fognini, who is a former top 10 player, is set to retire at the end of the 2025 season.
The 38-year-old certainly gave it everything in his final Wimbledon appearance, as he took Alcaraz to five sets on Centre Court.
However, in the end Alcaraz was too much and beat Fognini, 7-5 6(5)-7 7-5 2-6 6-1, in over four hours.
When speaking in his on-court interview after the match, Alcaraz actually admitted that he was confused by Fognini’s decision to retire given his performance.
“First of all to be honest I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon because the level he has shown, he can still play three or four more years! Unbelievable,” said Alcaraz. “I have to give him the credit of such a great match.
“Fabio is a great player, he has shown his whole career the level and the talent he has and once again he has done so again today.
“I am just a bit sad that this is probably his last Wimbledon but happy to have lived and shared the court many times with him, the locker room with him and we are going to enjoy the last of him.”
How did Carlos Alcaraz rate his own performance against Fabio Fognini?
Alcaraz hit an uncharacteristic 62 unforced errors against Fognini and was very clear that he would need to raise his level in his second round match.
“Playing the first match on Centre Court, the first match of any tournament is never easy,” Alcaraz added. “I have been practicing pretty well. I have been playing on grass really well. But at Wimbledon it’s 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 that I can be better. I have to improve in the next round. I just wanted to be better but in general I think it was a great match.”
In that second round match Alcaraz will play British wildcard and world number 733 Oliver Tarvet, who won his debut Grand Slam match at Wimbledon.
Tarvet is a US College player and Alcaraz suggested that he is very aware of the threat that the Brit can possess.
“I saw his name when he qualified for the first time,” said Alcaraz. “I think he is playing in college right now and he is playing great tennis on grass, so if he is in the second round he deserves it. He has a great level so I have to be focused on that. I will try to put my best tennis on the match.
“Tomorrow I will try to improve the things that didn’t work today. The serve and the return I think is a really great weapon on grass and obviously let’s keep enjoying being in Wimbledon.”
Alcaraz will look to continue his winning streak at Wimbledon when he plays Tarvet on Wednesday, July 2.
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