Wimbledon 2025: Carlos Alcaraz pauses match to help fainting fan, says 'it was nothing' in heartfelt message
On what became the hottest opening day in Wimbledon's 148-year history, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz delivered a powerful reminder that grace and empathy can shine even brighter than sporting triumph.
Temperatures soared to a blistering 33°C (91°F) on Monday as London sweltered under an unrelenting heatwave. Wimbledon officials scrambled to respond, setting up additional water stations and shaded zones while equipping staff with refillable bottles. Yet, despite these efforts, the oppressive heat proved too much for some spectators.
During his tense five-set clash against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini on Centre Court, Alcaraz suddenly stopped play after noticing a fan in distress in the stands. The young Spaniard immediately flagged the issue to chair officials and passed a water bottle into the crowd to assist. The match was paused for over 15 minutes as medics reached the elderly woman.Later that evening, a message from the woman's daughter surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), capturing hearts online. 'Thank you @carlosalcaraz for the concern shown to my mum today who was taken ill during your match. Unlikely you'll see this message but I can try! Thank you,' she wrote.
To the delight of many, Alcaraz did see the post—and responded with warmth that echoed his on-court sportsmanship. 'You're very welcome, it was nothing! I hope your mum is doing well. Send her a kiss from me and take good care of her!' he replied.
The touching exchange quickly went viral, with fans praising Alcaraz for his compassion off the court.After ultimately triumphing in a dramatic five-set battle—7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1—Alcaraz acknowledged the brutal conditions. 'Fans are not used to this weather. Sitting five hours in the sun without moving can be really hard,' he said during his post-match comments.As the 21-year-old moves forward in the tournament, it's not just his fierce groundstrokes or title defense that people will remember—but a small gesture that carried immense heart.
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