(June 30, 2025) Two-time defending champion, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz survived a five-set, 4 ½ hour struggle against former Top 10 player 38-year-old Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 on Centre College in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday. For the 38-year-old Italian, this was his last Wimbledon as he heads into retirement.
“I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon,” Alcaraz said, “because the level he has shown, he can still play three or four more years. Unbelievable.”
“I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon, because with the level he has shown, he can still play three or four more years,” said the 22-year-old Spaniard. “I have to give him credit for such a great match. Fabio is such a great player, he has shown in his whole career the level he has. I’m just a little bit sad that it’s his last Wimbledon, but happy to have shared the court with him.”
“Playing the first match at Centre Court, and the first match of every tournament, is never easy,” said Alcaraz. “I’ve been practicing pretty well. I’ve been playing on grass really well. But Wimbledon is special. It’s different.”
“Didn’t expect to play five sets against him,” Fognini said. “I had my chance.”
“It doesn’t matter the winning streak that I have right now, that I’ve been playing great on grass, that I’ve been preparing really well,” said Alcaraz, who currently is on a 15 match-win streak at Wimbledon. “Wimbledon is different. I could feel today that I was really nervous at the beginning.”
Next up for Alcaraz will be a match on Wednesday against 21-year-old British qualifier Oliver Taryet who plays college tennis at the University of San Diego and is ranked 733rd.
Alcaraz said: “I have to improve in the next round.”
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 30: Aryna Sabalenka in action against Carson Branstine (not seen) of Canada in the ladies singles first round match during day one of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ray Tang/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine on Court One 6-1 7-5 in 73 minutes on Monday.
The Belarusian ion the midst of the London heatwave went on a hot streak of her own winning the opening five games of the match.
“I’m super happy to be back and healthy and able to compete this year at this beautiful tournament,” said Sabalenka.
“In the first set she didn’t serve that great but in the second she was serving every serve at 120mph, which was crazy. It was a tough second set and I’m super happy with the win.”
The three-time major winner and two-time Wimbledon semifinalist will face Marie Bouzkova in the second round on Wednesday.
There were a slew of seeds losing on Monday as the tournament saw off No. 8 Holger Rune, No. 9 Daniil Medvedev, No. 16 Francisco Cerundolo, No. 20 Alexi Popyrin, No. 24 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who retired with a back injury, No. 31 Talon Griekspoor and No. 32 Matteo Berrettini. In women’s action, No. 9 Paula Badosa, No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko and No. 32 McCartney Kessler all lost on Monday.
A few matches failed to finish on Monday including fifth seed Taylor Fritz of the United States in a battle versus France’s Giovanni Mpeshi Perricard whose match was suspended at the end of the fourth set 6-7 (6), 6-7 (8), 6-4, 7-6 (6). The Frenchman set a record for the fastest serve at Wimbledon at 153mph.
