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.

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.

Defending champion Alcaraz was erratic and inconsistent against inspired Italian Fognini, but eventually triumphed in an enthralling first match of the tournament on Centre Court