Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz delivered a performance to remember on Monday at Wimbledon. Under a scorching sun, the 22-year-old Spaniard faced off against Italy's Fabio Fognini in a grueling five-set showdown, with a final scoreline of 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. After four hours and 37 minutes of intense play, Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 19 matches.
Fognini, 38, marking his final Wimbledon appearance, showcased his resilience and net skills, turning the match into a true test of endurance. Despite struggling with his serve at times, Alcaraz’s determination shone through as he secured his spot in the second round, where he will face British wildcard Oliver Tarvet.
Wimbledon’s opening day was full of surprises. Upsets occurred on court as Denmark's eighth seed Holger Rune was defeated by Nicolas Jarry, and Russia's ninth seed Daniil Medvedev fell to France's Benjamin Bonzi in fierce battles.
The day’s intensity was further amplified by a late curfew-induced suspension in American Taylor Fritz's match against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Fritz, after fighting back from two sets down, saw his match halted, leaving late spectators in suspense.
Reflecting on his challenging encounter, Alcaraz noted, "I knew at the beginning that it was going to be really difficult playing against Fabio. The talent that Fabio has is immense. In every match he can show his best tennis. I think today he has shown some of his best tennis." 🎾💪
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Defending champion Alcaraz labors to first round victory at Wimbledon
cgtn.com
