London. Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz survived a great drama in his opening match at Wimbledon, when he beat the experienced Talian Fabia Fognini on Monday in five sets 7: 5, 6: 7 (5), 7: 5, 2: 6, 6: 1 after almost five hours of fighting in the central court.
Belarusian Arina Sobolenková managed the heat a little better when she needed two sets for a triumph over Canadian Carson Branstine (6: 1, 7: 5).
In the All England Club on Monday they measured 32 degrees Celsius, which fell the record for the hottest opening day of the tournament.
The previous maximum was 29.3 degrees Celsius from 2001. Wimbledon has a heat rule that allows a ten -minute break between sets if the thermal stress index reaches or exceeds 30.1 ° C.
However, Alcaraz, who made 62 unforced errors against Fognini, showed resistance and refused to undergo demanding conditions.
“I don’t know why it’s Fabi’s last Wimbledon. The level he showed suggests that he could play for three to four years,” Alcaraz said.
“Playing in the Central Court in the first tournament match is never easy. Wimbledon is specific and another. I tried to play the best I know, but I think I could play better.”
During the match Alcaraz helped a fan who collapsed in the auditorium and handed her a bottle of water until the medical staff came. In the second round he will meet the British qualifier Oliver Tarvet.
Alcaraz wants to become the fifth man in the so -called. Open era, which will win at least three Wimbledon titles in a row.
The highest seeded Belarus Sobolenková used ice compresses during the match to handle the heat. “I felt really great. I am very grateful that I am healthy and ready to compete and that I advanced to the second round,” said Sobolenkova, who is waiting for Czech Marie Bouzkova.
However, the double finalist from Tunisia Ons Jabeurová had to withdraw from the match with Viktorija Tomov in Tears at 7: 6 (5), 2: 0 for the Bulgarian rival. Russian Daniil Medvedev lost to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi and broke the chair missile after the match.
Dane Holger Rune did not maintain a two -set lead and succumbed to Čiľan Nicolás Jarry, the former finalist Matteo Berrettini also dropped out and Stefanos Tsitsipas resigned for injury.
Among the women British Sonay Kartalová conquered Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, American Madison Keys turned a duel with Romanian Elena-Gabriela Rusova and another home player Emma Raducan advanced through compatriot Mimi Xu.
The matches of German Alexander Zverev and American Taylor Fritz were interrupted for the Wimbledon “evening ban” and continue on Tuesday.
