Tim Henman criticised Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘bizarre’ first-round performance at Wimbledon and believes the display would have ‘concerned’ his coaching team.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Alcaraz was expected to breeze past Fabio Fognini on the opening day of the championships but was taken to five sets by the retiring Italian.
Fognini twice came from a set behind to force a fifth-set decider before Alcaraz eventually ground the 38-year-old down to win 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 2-6 6-1 in four hours and 37 minutes.
As Fognini took the match to a fifth and deciding set, tennis legend Pat Cash said he was on verge of ‘the biggest upset in Wimbledon history’.
While Alcaraz avoided a huge and disappointing exit, Henman was ‘so surprised’ and even concerned by his performance.
‘I’m so surprised at the poor execution and surprised at his reactions,’ Henman said on BBC One as Alcaraz struggled against Fognini.
‘He’s missing shots I can’t believe he’s missing. It’s certainly a concern for his coaching team. He’s been pretty careless, he’s set up points and time and time again made unforced errors.
‘He keeps making life difficult for himself. Alcaraz is just making some easy misses here, it’s been a very bizarre performance from him.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so out of sorts. It certainly wasn’t meant to go like this. I’ve never seen Carlos Alcaraz look this out of sorts on such a big stage.
‘Carlos has set the bar for his performances so high because his form has been absolutely sensational.
Pat Cash on Carlos Alcaraz vs Fabio Fognini
‘Unless Alcaraz does something and Fognini goes off the boil, I think this could be the biggest upset in Wimbledon history.
‘Fognini is playing unbelievable tennis and has worked out how to beat Alcaraz.
‘Everything he does is working, and Carlos is struggling. He is not playing badly, he is just being outplayed.’
Pat Cash speaking on BBC One during the match.
‘But his first serve percentage has been rather low in this game, it has been around 50% so Fabio Fognini has been getting plenty of chances to attack the second serve.
‘The unforced errors have continued to flow as well, so there hasn’t been a great deal of rhythm which is so rare for him.’
Alcaraz is bidding to win his third successive Wimbledon title and secure a sixth Grand Slam at the age of 22.
The Spaniard admitted he ‘has to improve’ going forward in SW19 but praised the retiring Fognini, who was making his 15th and final appearance at Wimbledon.
‘First of all, I don’t know why it is Fabio Fognini’s last Wimbledon because the level he has shown shows he can still play for three or four more years,’ he said during his on-court interview.
‘I have to give him the credit for such a great match. He has shown the level and talent he has throughout his whole career and he has shown that once again today, so I’m just a bit sad that this is probably his last Wimbledon.
‘I’m happy to have shared the court and locker room many times with him. We got to enjoy the last of him.
‘Playing on Centre Court for the first match of any tournament is never easy. I’ve been practising pretty well and playing on grass really well, but Wimbledon is special and different.
‘I could feel the difference between Wimbledon and the other tournaments. I just tried to play my best but I would say that I could play better.
‘I have to improve in the next round. In general, I still think it was a great match.’
Alcaraz will face Great Britain’s Oliver Tarvet in the second round. Tarvet, the world number 719, enjoyed a dream Wimbledon debut, beating Leandro Riedi in straight sets.
On facing a Brit next, Alcaraz said: ‘The game isn’t going to be personal, guys!
‘He is playing great tennis on grass and if he is in the second round of Wimbledon then he is playing at a great level.
‘I have to be ready and I will try to put my best tennis out for the match. Tomorrow, I will try to improve the things that didn’t work today.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.