Alcaraz and Sabalenka cruise as Medvedev, Rune crash out

Carlos Alcaraz survived a major scare from Italian veteran Fabio Fognini as the world number two started his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title with a marathon five-set victory on Monday.

Alcaraz battled to a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win over the 38-year-old Italian in a first-round clash lasting over four hours in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

It was first time since Roger Federer narrowly beat Alejandro Falla in 2010 that a defending champion had been taken to a fifth set in the Wimbledon first round.

Alcaraz shrugged off an inconsistent display including 62 unforced errors as he refused to wilt on the hottest opening day in Wimbledon history.

The 22-year-old secured a crucial break in the second game of the deciding set, roaring “vamos” after saving two break points in the next game.

Fognini had given Alcaraz a much sterner test than expected, but the world number 138 ran out of steam as the indefatigable Spaniard once again showcased his final set prowess.

France's Benjamin Bonzi leaves after winning his first round match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev. Reuters

Alcaraz has never lost in a Grand Slam first round in 18 appearances.

Having vanquished Novak Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals, Alcaraz is looking to join an elite group of Wimbledon icons.

His clay-court credentials are firmly established after he fought back from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in an epic French Open final earlier this month.

Alcaraz is equally dynamic on grass, winning 30 of his 33 Tour-level matches on the surface, with his last defeat at Wimbledon coming against Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

He is bidding to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win at least three consecutive Wimbledon titles after seven-time champion Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.

If he achieves that target, Alcaraz would be the second-youngest player in the Open Era to win six Grand Slam men’s titles after Borg, who reached that landmark in 1978.

Sabalenka downs Branstine: Top seed Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round, beating Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5.

Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka plays a return shot against Carson Branstine (unseen) during their Wimbledon Championships first round match on Monday. Reuters

The 27-year-old Belarusian is a three-time Grand Slam champion but has never been beyond the semi-finals at the All England Club. She is looking to ease the pain of losing in the finals of the Australian Open and the French Open this year.

Sabalenka broke Branstine twice in a one-sided first set as the Canadian struggled with her serve.

Branstine was a tougher proposition in the second set, winning the first game to love on her own serve, but missed a chance to break in the next game.

The 24-year-old was playing her first Grand Slam main-draw match but enjoyed significant wins over French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson and Bianca Andreescu in qualifying.

The match were locked at 5-5 in the second set before Sabalenka broke in the 11th game and served out the victory to set up a meeting with New Zealand’s Lulu Sun or Czech player Marie Bouzkova.

Medvedev suffers shock early exit: Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock first-round defeat at the hands of France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

Carson Branstine of Canada serves the ball to Aryna  Sabalenka of Belarus during their first round women's single match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, on Monday. AP

Medvedev had reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the past two years, but the Russian’s bid for another strong run at the All England Club came to an abrupt end at the hands of the world number 64.

Bonzi beat ninth-seeded Medvedev 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in three hours and seven minutes in sweltering conditions on Court Two.

It was the first time in seven Wimbledon appearances that Medvedev has failed to advance past the opening round.

Medvedev, a six-time Grand Slam finalist, has endured a dismal year at the majors, losing in the Australian Open second round and French Open first round before his Wimbledon flop.

The 29-year-old, who won the US Open in 2021, defeated top seeded Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year before losing to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

Rune crashes out: Holger Rune crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round as the Danish eighth seed blew a two-set lead against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry.

Rune was beaten 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in three hours and 34 minutes on Court Three at the All England Club.

The 22-year-old is yet to make it past the quarter-finals at any of the four Grand Slams, with his best run at Wimbledon ending in the last eight in 2023.

Jarry, ranked 143rd, will face American world number 62 Learner Tien in the second round.

Agencies