A champion in survival mode

Andrés Tomás Rico | 30 Jun 2025 | 19.19

A champion in survival mode. Photo: Getty Images

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With unexpected equality and suffering, and the survival mode activated once again, that was the victory of Carlos Alcaraz in his debut as the title defender at Wimbledon. The Spaniard faced Fabio Fognini, who, before hanging up his racket, paid tribute on the Center Court of the great London tournament, but it was not enough to defeat the player from El Palmar. Alcaraz seemed subdued and error-prone, but he clung to the court to avoid one of the biggest surprises in recent years and reacted just in time to crush any hope for the Italian. He secured the victory with a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 score after four hours and 27 minutes, thus extending his streak to 19 consecutive wins and 15 in a row at Wimbledon. He hasn't lost at The Cathedral since 2022 and has no intention of doing so this year. With the homework done and after the scare of the first round, he awaits Oliver Tarver in the second round.

Everything was perfectly set at The Tennis Cathedral for the debut of its latest champion. With immaculate and finely cut grass, full stands, and summer sun, which doesn't always show up in London, the conditions were perfect for the two-time champion to begin on the most important court in tennis.

Alcaraz arrived at the event in one of the best moments of his career. Fresh from victories at Roland Garros and Queen’s, with an instant adaptation to grass and a aggressive and effective style that make him a favorite to claim his third title in London. But he would face a rival already at the exit door, although still possessing plenty of magic in his battered wand.

Equality from the first point

Playing the first round of a tournament against Fabio Fognini is always a double-edged gift. Despite the Italian being out of the Top 100 and in his final year as a professional, he tends to bring his best game and trouble even the top players until the end. This was evident at the start of the match with five break points in the first three games on the Spaniard's serve. Although he saved all five attempts, he appeared cool and uncomfortable in the early stages of the match, aware of the pressure that comes with being the title defender.

It could be said that Fognini had nothing to lose, whereas Alcaraz had a lot at stake. This explains the course of the first set, with the Italian leading 5-4 and putting pressure on Alcaraz’s serve. However, the Spaniard excels under pressure and not only held his own serve but also broke Fognini's to take the 7-5 victory in a first set where he faced more adversity than expected.

Fognini refused to surrender

For those who thought that was the end of Fognini's tennis and that he would surrender in the next two sets were mistaken. The start of the second set mirrored the first. However, in what seemed like a calm game for Fognini with 40-0, he lost focus and allowed Alcaraz to break for a 4-2 lead. It was a breath of fresh air for Alcaraz at that point because he was not fully comfortable, his first serve was not supporting him, a key element in his victory at Queen’s. Fognini had a break point to level at 4-4, which he converted. The Italian seemed destined to leave Wimbledon, but he was very much alive.

Alcaraz was playing with fire as his game was not as clean and incisive as in Queen’s, his forehand lacked precision, and his wrist was not smooth. The second set, like the first, was on a knife's edge, the favorite condition for the Spaniard, yet Fognini persisted and the set was decided in the tiebreak. Something was off with the reigning French Open champion; he appeared serious and unsmiling, signs that something was amiss. He lacked the temperament and cunning he usually shows in crucial moments, and Fognini, who was gaining momentum, defied the odds to claim the second set (7-6(5)).

The situation didn't improve, and the concern grew

Initially at Wimbledon to enjoy his final appearance, Fognini gradually started to believe he could fight in the match. Conversely, Alcaraz's demeanor was not encouraging. He appeared diminished in energy and confidence, and in this situation, when Fognini broke his serve, all alarms went off.

Alcaraz, feeling the same, stopped the bleeding, broke back, and took a 3-2 lead. For the first time in the match, he was in front, intensifying his play. However, three break points for Fognini reappeared. It was at this moment when the Spaniard's first serve finally showed up to save him from a looming crisis.

He clenched his fist for the first time in a long time, taking advantage of an Italian error to break serve. Yet Fognini, inspired, fought back. Nothing was certain in a match where 5-5 left everything to be decided. At that moment, the five-time Grand Slam champion fought back, secured the tiebreak on his serve, then broke Fognini’s serve. The triumphant champion roared, relieving the pressure of a truly tough match.

Despite his fuel tank draining and a notable 16-year age difference, the Italian's physicality endured, and his game continued to pose a threat. The dynamics of the entire match repeated in this fourth set: tension and inconsistency from the Spaniard, virtuosity and resilience from the Italian. The match was far from over, and Fognini had not played his final card, breaking twice to force the decisive fifth set (6-2).

A potentially thrilling fifth set

The end of the fourth set revealed a concerning image of Alcaraz, seemingly hindered by some discomfort or issue preventing him from playing at full capacity. His mobility was limited compared to his performance in Queen’s, and he needed to raise his game to avoid losing his reign at Wimbledon.

Finally, Alcaraz awakened, more from survival than conviction. If he didn't want to be the tournament’s letdown, he had to rise and give it his all, no more holding back. By breaking Fognini’s serve to go up 2-0, he made his familiar gesture of pointing to his ear for the first time in the match. He wanted to hear the Center Court as a sign that he was there, enduring the struggle.

Despite the scoreboard showing 3-0, the match was paused for 15 minutes due to a medical emergency. This break sealed Fognini’s fate, as he never recovered. Alcaraz did not let slip an entirely unexpected match for him, both in terms of his level and that of his opponent. At times, a much worse outcome seemed on the horizon; the champion fought hard, activating the survival mode once again and clinching a tough, hard-fought victory (7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1). Respect to Fognini, who showed that age is just a number, that he still has a lot of tennis left, and perhaps, he should reconsider his retirement. He received a tremendous ovation from the Center Court in his last Wimbledon appearance. This entertaining and beautiful match confirms a poorly kept secret: How challenging it is to beat Alcaraz!

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un campeón en modo supervivencia