Carlos Alcaraz, locked in a five-set struggle at Centre Court, looked toward his coach Monday and shouted something about how Fabio Fognini -- 38 years old, retiring after this season, winless in 2025 -- looked as if he could keep playing until he's 50.

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time reigning champion and present World No. 2, barely avoided a startling first-round loss on Centre Court by 38-year-old Fabio Fognini in a fierce five-set battle. Tension also rose as temperatures soared above 32 degrees Celsius,

The two-time defending champ eventually asserts himself in the last set to pick up a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory amid record-breaking Day 1 heat at the oldest Grand Slam tournament.