(In Images) Fabio Fognini Asks for Carlos Alcaraz’s Shirt to Give to his Son After a Heroic Battle at Wimbledon

Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini battled for over four and a half hours at Wimbledon.

(In Images) Fabio Fognini Asks for Carlos Alcaraz’s Shirt to Give to his Son After a Heroic Battle at Wimbledon

Fabio Fognini and Carlos Alcaraz (via The Tennis Letter)

Fabio Fognini may have lost his opening round at Wimbledon, but he won a lot of fans after his heroic battle against Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian lost 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 to conclude his journey at SW19.

After the match, the entire centre court gave the 2019 Monte Carlo winner a round of applause. Before leaving the court, Fognini asked Alcaraz for his shirt. The Italian has not hidden the fact that his son is a huge fan of the World No.2

Meanwhile, Alcaraz survived a major scare. He is the first defending champion at SW19 to be taken to the fifth set since Roger Federer in 2010. The Swiss Maestro survived Alejandro Falla that day.

Alcaraz will hope that his performances improve in the coming days. He is boosted by the exits of multiple high-profile players on the opening day, such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev.

Carlos Alcaraz survives scare at Wimbledon

Carlos Alcaraz began his Wimbledon title defense with a hard-fought victory over Fabio Fognini on Monday. Playing on Centre Court in intense heat, the World No.2 needed five sets to secure his place in the second round. The match lasted four hours and 37 minutes, with the defending champion eventually winning 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. Fognini, competing in his final Wimbledon, pushed the two-time champion to the limit.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz Brasil)

The opening day was the hottest in Wimbledon history, with temperatures reaching 31.4°C. Despite the tough conditions and Fognini’s aggressive play, Alcaraz showed determination and composure. The Spaniard now holds an impressive 14-1 record in five-set matches. He recently won a five-set final at Roland Garros against Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz came into the tournament on an 18-match winning streak, the longest of his career. He is chasing history, aiming to match Bjorn Borg by winning both the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back in consecutive years. His first-round opponent, Fognini, was on a 10-match losing streak but still posed a serious challenge.

At one point, the former World No.1 trailed by a break in the third set. With David Beckham watching from the Royal Box, the young Spaniard fought back and took control in the final set. The win kept him from joining the short list of defending champions who lost in the opening round, a fate that befell Manuel Santana in 1967 and Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.

Carlos Alcaraz flirts with rankings collapse

World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon opener was expected to be straightforward, but it turned into a long and testing match against Fabio Fognini. Starting at 1:30 p.m. under the hot London sun, the match stretched until after 6:00 p.m. Fognini delivered a surprise performance, pushing the defending champion much harder than anticipated.

Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon

The Italian veteran played one of his best matches on grass, mixing unpredictability with flair. Alcaraz, clearly uncomfortable at times, struggled to find his rhythm. Though he won 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, his reaction at the end—clapping for Fognini—seemed to mask concern over his own inconsistent play.

Throughout the match, the World No.2 showed signs of frustration and fatigue. His energy appeared low, drawing comparisons to past underwhelming performances, such as his US Open loss to Botic van de Zandschulp. Concerns about his preparation grew after it emerged he played a round of golf with Andy Murray the day before the match.

Next, Alcaraz will face British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round. Despite being the heavy favorite, he will need to raise his level significantly. If he hopes to secure a third straight Wimbledon title, sharper focus and better form will be essential moving forward.