An opening defeat for Alcaraz against Fabio Fognini would, naturally, have been Sinner’s preferred outcome, but a four-and-a-half hour, five-set epic in blistering heat was a decent consolation prize.

While Carlos Alcaraz struggled to get past Fabio Fognini, it wasn't the same for another Italian as Jannik Sinner eased past Luca Nardi at Wimbledon on Tuesday afternoon 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.

Jannik Sinner makes light work of fellow Italian Luca Nardi in Wimbledon opener - The 23-year-old dropped only seven games in a comprehensive victory in under two hours.