Carlos Alcaraz required all five sets to see off Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in his first round match, and will face Britain’s Oliver Tarvet next
Carlos Alcaraz promised to pay Oliver Tarvet maximum respect when he takes on Britain’s rank outsider in the second round.
The two-time champion insists he won’t be taking his opponent lightly – although Tarvet’s ranking of no.733 is so lowly it needs scuba divers to find him in the ATP charts.
Alcaraz required all five sets to see off Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 and said: “If Oliver is here in the second round, it’s because he deserves it. He’s playing great tennis. I don’t have to think like I’m going to win easily. I have to have respect to him and step on the court thinking that if I don’t play my best, I can lose.
“I’ve seen him play, and he has a good level. Even though he’s not playing professionally or he has played just his first tour level match, it doesn’t matter.
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“I have to think that is going to be a really tough match. Is going to be a difficult one that I have to be ready for, and I’m trying to play my best without thinking about his ranking and I have to have that respect to him as well.
“I watched a little bit of his match before mine before mine and I saw great tennis on grass, to be honest.
“I have to be ready. I will try to improve the things that it didn’t work today and hopefully be better.”
Alcaraz rejected suggestions that Wimbledon should consider closing the roof on super-hot days after the final set against Fognini was held up for 15 minutes when a spectator sat in the direct sunlight needed first-aid treatment.
He said: “I think it shouldn’t close the roof because we will play in an outdoor tournament. The roof is there if we can’t play in another way
“Battling the heat is one of the things that we have to do. For the fan, here in London, maybe they are not used to having this weather.
“But sitting five hours in the stand without moving, the sun hitting, I think could be really difficult to deal with for the spectators.”