Alcaraz Tested in Wimbledon Opener
Record heat, shock exits, and British breakthroughs highlight Day 1 at SW19
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz narrowly avoided an early Wimbledon exit, surviving a five-set thriller against Fabio Fognini in brutal 32°C heat on Monday. Meanwhile, women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced with ease as several big names in the men's draw fell on a dramatic opening day.
Alcaraz, chasing a third straight Grand Slam title, edged past the veteran Italian 7–5, 6–7(5), 7–5, 2–6, 6–1 in over four hours. A heat-induced medical stoppage for a fan added to the drama, but the Spaniard found his rhythm late to close it out and avoid joining the short list of defending champions eliminated in round one.
'It was really tough out there. Fabio played unbelievably. I don't know why he's retiring — he can still compete,' Alcaraz said, paying tribute to Fognini, who played his final Wimbledon.
Day 1 Highlights:
Sabalenka Rolls: The Belarusian eased past qualifier Carson Branstine 6–1, 7–5.
British Surge: Seven British players won on Day 1 — the most in a single day since the professional era began.
Major Upsets:
Daniil Medvedev (9) lost in four sets to Benjamin Bonzi.
Holger Rune (8) squandered a two-set lead to Chile's Nicolas Jarry.
Stefanos Tsitsipas retired injured after trailing by two sets.
Other Standouts:
Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal both advanced for Britain, while Katie Boulter knocked out ninth seed Paula Badosa.
Naomi Osaka overcame early nerves to beat qualifier Talia Gibson.
Amanda Anisimova delivered a 6–0, 6–0 demolition of Yulia Putintseva.
Ons Jabeur retired due to illness, ending her campaign prematurely.
Next Up
Alcaraz faces British wildcard Oliver Tarvet in round two, while Sabalenka prepares for tougher tests ahead.
Despite the heat and high-profile exits, Wimbledon 2025 kicked off with everything fans could ask for — drama, surprises, and glimpses of future stars under the scorching London sun.
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