Wimbledon, Fognini comes close with Alcaraz in fifth set

No one, really no one, could ever have imagined what happened on the Wimbledon centre court on the first day of the tournament: Fabio Fognini held off world number 2 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for almost five hours, eventually prevailing only in the fifth set, 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

Five sets of sublime quality, with tricks and flashes that we will see again and again on the videos, the talent of both exalted to the maximum by the English grass. As if the two were not 16 years apart and 136 ranking places apart. As if the Italian, at 38, was not at the end of a career that has perhaps given him little (compared to the game he can express), but at the level of the Spaniard, who is at the peak of his own. Alcaraz, after the fourth set lost 6-2, spread his arms wide as he looked at his team, helpless after the Italian's net closures, the deep replies that did not allow him to press from the back, the short balls reached and closed by Fognini with brilliant touches, the running winners, disconcerting for their apparent ease of execution. The Spaniard's jubilation during the course of the match hints at how unexpectedly he felt at risk on a day that saw the defeat of Rune (beaten by Jarry) and Medvedev (by Bonzi).

For Fognini an exit (his last appearance at Wimbledon) that will be remembered by those who love tennis, as well as by the central court audience, repeatedly on their feet celebrating his feats. The applause from Alcaraz, in the centre of the court at the end of the match, the final seal.