Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending Wimbledon champion, launched his 2025 campaign at the All England Club with a breathtaking five-set victory over Italian veteran Fabio Fognini on June 30, 2025, cementing his place in tennis history by breaking a storied grass-court record previously set by Australian legend Rod Laver. The 22-year-old Spaniard’s 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 triumph on Centre Court, lasting four hours and 37 minutes, not only extended his remarkable 19-match winning streak but also saw him become the fastest player in the Open Era to reach 30 ATP-level grass-court wins, achieving the milestone in just 33 matches. This surpassed the record Laver shared with Tony Roche, who each needed 34 matches, and placed Alcaraz ahead of icons like John McEnroe and Boris Becker, who reached 30 wins in 35 matches.
The match, played under sweltering 32-degree heat, tested Alcaraz’s resilience. Fognini, a 38-year-old former world No. 9 in his final Wimbledon before retirement, pushed the world No. 2 to the brink with his crafty play and relentless variety. “I could feel today that I was really nervous at the beginning,” Alcaraz admitted, reflecting on the pressure of opening Centre Court as the defending champion. “Wimbledon is different. It doesn’t matter that the winning streak that I have right now, that I’ve been playing great on grass, that I’ve been preparing really well the week before.” Despite losing his serve five times and struggling with a first-serve percentage below 50%, Alcaraz showcased his trademark tenacity, particularly in the fifth set, where he surged to a 6-1 rout after a 15-minute pause to aid a spectator overcome by the heat.
Alcaraz’s grass-court prowess, now at an astonishing 90.9% win rate (30-3), underscores his adaptability on a surface he first played competitively just six years ago. “The style that the people bring to the court when they play on grass, I think is so beautiful,” he said, praising the unique movement and sound of the ball on Wimbledon’s lush lawns. His ability to flip points from defense to offense, often with a deft slice backhand followed by explosive forward movement, has become a hallmark of his game. This tactical brilliance, honed during his recent Queen’s Club title run, allowed him to steal 37% of points when defending against Fognini, a statistic that echoes his dominance in previous Wimbledon campaigns, where he outshone even Novak Djokovic in net play during the 2024 final.
The record-breaking achievement adds another feather to Alcaraz’s cap as he chases a historic Wimbledon three-peat, a feat accomplished only by Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Djokovic in the Open Era. His 14-1 record in five-set Grand Slam matches, tying Mats Wilander’s Open Era mark, further highlights his clutch performance under pressure. “I tried my best but I can be better. I need to improve in the next round,” Alcaraz said, ever the perfectionist despite his victory. His next challenge is British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, ranked No. 733, who earned a second-round clash after a confident 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Leandro Riedi.
Alcaraz’s journey to this milestone has been meteoric. With five Grand Slam titles—two on grass, two on clay, and one on hard courts—he’s the youngest man to win Majors on all three surfaces. His 2025 season, punctuated by titles in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, and the French Open, where he overcame Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic, has seen him compile a 38-5 record. Yet, his candidness about mental struggles, including a post-US Open 2024 admission of feeling “not strong” mentally, adds depth to his narrative. A brief respite in Ibiza after his French Open triumph rekindled his joy, and his love for grass shines through: “The movement is really tough, but when you get it, it’s kind of you’re flying.”
As Alcaraz eyes a sixth Major and a place among tennis’s pantheon, his record-breaking performance against Fognini signals his intent to dominate SW19 once more. With a favorable draw and unmatched versatility, the Spaniard’s quest for history promises more electrifying moments on Wimbledon’s hallowed courts.
Leave a Reply