Carlos Alcaraz showed the world that sportsmanship goes beyond the game itself during his dramatic five-set Wimbledon opener against Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
The defending champion halted play in the final set to help an elderly fan who had collapsed in the crowd, as temperatures soared on what became the hottest opening day in the tournament’s history.
With Alcaraz leading 3-0 in the fifth set, he noticed commotion in the Centre Court stands during a changeover. Spotting that a woman had fainted in the direct sun, he quickly alerted the umpire. Medical staff rushed in as fellow spectators shaded her with umbrellas and tried to cool her with handheld fans.
But it was Alcaraz’s next move that truly captured hearts-he walked over and handed her a bottle of cold water from behind his seat.
The umpire officially suspended the match, and the concerned Spaniard remained near the fan, even speaking with her family while she was being attended to. Stewards erected barriers and provided additional cover until medics carefully stretchered the woman out of the stadium. Thankfully, she was responsive and sitting upright as she left.
A classy act in a grueling contest
After a 17-minute delay, play resumed. Alcaraz wasted no time, breaking Fognini again to go up 4-0 before closing out the set and match 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. Yet for many, it was his off-court actions that left the most lasting impression.
One spectator noted, “He was really concerned and stayed talking to her and her family the whole time. It was a lovely thing to witness.”
The sweltering heat affected more than just the crowd. Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur had to call for a medical timeout in her match earlier in the day, visibly distressed and later retiring in tears. Romanian player Elena-Gabriela Ruse also struggled in her first-round match, requiring on-court assistance.
Even Daniil Medvedev, who was upset by French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi, admitted that the conditions were brutal, saying, “Physically, it was not easy… The fourth set was the toughest.”
Tournament officials responded quickly to the heat crisis, supplying extra water stations, cooling towels, and adjusting ball crew rotations to protect everyone involved. Spectators were urged to wear sun protection and stay hydrated throughout the day.
Alcaraz’s kind gesture added a human touch to a high-stakes match and reminded everyone watching that true champions aren’t only defined by their trophies-but also by their character.
Read the full article here
