Carlos Alcaraz narrowly avoided what would have been one of Wimbledon's greatest upsets, surviving a gruelling five-set battle against Fabio Fognini to advance to the second round.
The two-time defending champion eventually triumphed 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 2-6 6-1 on Centre Court.
The 22-year-old Spaniard faced unexpected resistance from the Italian veteran in a marathon encounter lasting four and a half hours.
Fognini, competing in what is expected to be his final Wimbledon appearance before retirement, twice rallied to push the match to a decisive fifth set.
Carlos Alcaraz emerged triumphant over Fabio Fognini in an epic first-round tie at Wimbledon
|Reuters
The match began with Alcaraz taking the opening set 7-5, but the momentum shifted dramatically as the contest progressed.
Fognini struck back to claim the second set in a tiebreak, winning it 7-5.
JUST IN: Billie Jean King lashes out at Wimbledon dress code tradition: 'It drives me nuts'
The world number two regained control in the third set, securing it 6-4, only to see the 38-year-old Italian mount another comeback. Fognini dominated the fourth set 6-2, forcing a decider.
Throughout the encounter, Alcaraz uncharacteristically struggled with his serve and made numerous groundstroke errors.
The extreme conditions, with temperatures exceeding 32C, appeared to affect both players as they battled in the sweltering heat on Centre Court.
The deciding set was interrupted for 15 minutes when a spectator sitting in the sun fell ill. Alcaraz responded by taking a bottle of cold water to assist in their recovery.
When play resumed, the Spanish second seed quickly wrapped up the victory.
Despite extending his winning streak to 19 matches, Alcaraz's performance raised concerns as he struggled throughout the lengthy contest.
READ MORE: Roger Federer, 43, breaks tennis record as Wimbledon 2025 looms
Carlos Alcaraz is looking to defend his Wimbledon crown
|Reuters
The extreme heat clearly impacted both players, with the defending champion appearing particularly affected by the conditions.
His usually reliable game showed signs of strain as he battled to overcome the determined Italian challenger on the tournament's opening day.
Alcaraz arrives at Wimbledon having captured his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this month.
He defeated Jannik Sinner in what has been described as an all-time classic final before claiming the Queen's trophy on his return to British grass.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Carlos Alcaraz now faces Oliver Tarvet in the next round
|Reuters
The defending champion now faces 21-year-old British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round.
Tarvet earned his opportunity to face one of tennis's superstars after defeating Switzerland's Leandro Riedi on his Wimbledon debut.
Despite his struggles against Fognini, Alcaraz's recent form suggests he remains the player to beat as he pursues a third consecutive Wimbledon crown.