Tennis-Wimbledon's main showcourt aura leaves Alcaraz a nervous wreck in opener


Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning his first round match against Italy's Fabio Fognini REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

LONDON (Reuters) -Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Wimbledon on the back of 18 straight match victories but the defending champion said after avoiding the opening-round trapdoor on Monday that playing on Centre Court again left him feeling like a nervous rookie.

The Spaniard, who should have been brimming with confidence after capturing titles in Rome, the French Open and Queen's Club Championships in the lead-up to the grasscourt Grand Slam, edged Fabio Fognini 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1 in 4-1/2 hours.

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