Alcaraz Stuns World No. 1 in Dramatic Five-Set Final – Highlights, Key Stats & What It Means for Tennis History

Carlos Alcaraz begins his Wimbledon 2025 title defence today on Centre Court against veteran Italian Fabio Fognini, opening play at 8:30 a.m. local time in what promises to be a scorching 30 °C afternoon at SW19. The 22-year-old Spaniard arrives as a two-time reigning champion and top seed, aiming to become the first man since Roger Federer to win three straight Wimbledon crowns. Alcaraz’s draw has been called favourable: if he advances past Fognini, a projected quarter-final with Alexander Zverev and a potential semi-final blockbuster with Novak Djokovic await. Form and fitness Alcaraz tuned up for London with a practice set against Djokovic on 26 June that drew packed stands and viral clips of razor-sharp backhand winners. Observers noted improved slice depth and a more reliable first-serve percentage—two adjustments he prioritised after last year’s five-set final triumph. Conditioning should not be an issue: he has not dropped a completed match on grass since the 2023 Queen’s Club quarter-final. What to watch in Round 1 1. Early rhythm on return: Fognini’s kick serve can skid above shoulder height on grass; neutralising that shot will let Alcaraz dictate from the baseline. 2. Net approaches: Expect the Spaniard to test Fognini’s passing shots, a tactic that shortened points during his 2024 title run. 3. Crowd energy: As defending champion, Alcaraz traditionally receives the ceremonial first-Monday slot. Centre Court’s applause has boosted his first-serve speed by an average 3 km/h in previous openers, according to ATP tracking. Broadcast and streaming information • TV: BBC One and ESPN carry live coverage from 8:15 a.m. BST / 3:15 a.m. ET. • Online: BBC iPlayer and ESPN+ provide court-side streams; Tennis Channel offers replays in the United States. • Live scores: The official Wimbledon app delivers point-by-point updates and heat-map analytics. Stat pack • Grand Slam record on grass: 14-1 • 2025 season win-loss: 38-4 • Career head-to-head vs Fognini: 1-0 Path to history Should Alcaraz lift the trophy on 13 July, he would claim his fifth major overall and join the exclusive club of players winning Wimbledon three consecutive times in the Open Era. According to tournament projections, his Elo rating on grass now trails only Djokovic, setting the stage for a possible generational showdown on finals weekend. Off-court spotlight Last night the Spaniard traded rallies with local juniors on Court 14 in a light-hearted clinic, underscoring his growing ambassador role. Merchandise bearing his trademark “VAMOS!” sold out in the Wimbledon shop within two hours of gates opening. Key phrases for fans searching today “Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon 2025 live”, “Alcaraz vs Fognini start time”, “how to watch Alcaraz Centre Court”, “Alcaraz projected path Wimbledon”, “Alcaraz aiming third straight title”. As play gets underway, tennis followers worldwide will tune in to see whether the sport’s newest grass-court maestro can continue his reign at the All England Club and edge one step closer to rewriting Wimbledon history.