Wimbledon: Fognini Takes Alcaraz to Five Sets

Imperia: 38-year-old world number 130 Fabio Fognini from Imperia took two-time and defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain to five sets in their tournament-opening match on Centre Court Monday, before folding 6-1 in the final set in the blistering sun in South London.

According to Ansa News Agency, the 22-year-old world number two from Murcia is bidding to become the first player since Bjorn Borg to achieve the Roland-Garros-Wimbledon double in successive years. During the match, Alcaraz was often outplayed by the veteran Italian, former world number nine, who won the fourth set handily.

In his last game at Wimbledon, Fognini lost 7-5 6-7 7-5 2-6 6-1 to the five-time slam winner. Alcaraz is the favorite to secure his third straight Wimbledon crown, ahead of world number one Jannik Sinner of Italy. Alcaraz recently defeated Sinner in the longest French Open final earlier this month after the 23-year-old South Tyrolean had four match points in the fourth set.