Carlos Alcaraz released an 11th ace on match point to finish off a 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Australian Aleksandar Alexander Vukic on Wednesday and move into the Wimbledon third round.

The defending champion and third seed needed just under two hours to make his mark and is already savouring a re-match with Frances Tiafoe, whom he  beat in New York last season on the way to the US Open title.

Told that the American had said he was “coming for” Alcaraz, the smiling Spaniard retorted: “I’m going for him.

“We had a good match at the Open, he’s a talented player. It will be a difficult match for me, but I’m ready to take that challenge. 

“I’m ready to play at a high level and hopefully take him.”

Alcaraz, who beat Vukic with 42 winners and 15 unforced errors, considered himself satisfied on the day.

“The end of the first set was the key. He served for the set but I played a good tiebreaker. In the third, I had a really high level – I’m so happy about it.

“In these situations you have to increase your level, put every ball in and be aggressive.”

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev had to work for three and half hours, wrestling with his emotions to defeat Alexandre Muller of France 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-5.

The 2023 semi-finalist who has somehow been “exiled” to Court No. 1 for many of his past matches, admitted he could get used to a starring role on Centre also

“I won but I didn’t play the best match, Tis court has a really slow bounce, I need to get used to it.

The more chances I have to play on Centre, the better I can get. Of course, I’m happy to play on Centre Court at Wimbledon.”

Medvedev said that he tried to stay positive while trailing a set and a break.

“He played well and at some moments it was difficult to stay with him. But i stayed solid, stayed in the match and tried to fight.

“I should have played much better but I’m happy with the win. I have to try and do better in the next round.

“I regained a calm mind in the second set and competed to turn the match around. I’m pretty happy about that,”

Eighth seed Casper Ruud was upset by crowd-pleasing veteran Fabio Fognini, who posted a 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (1 ), 6-3 victory as Italian tennis continued to surge.

The 37-year-old – nine days younger than retiring Andy Murray – and sporting a shock of newly bleached blonde hair, twice served for victory in the third set while leading 5-2, 30-0; he held a match point in the eighth game.

But the chapter ended with the Norwegian seed winning in a tiebreaker to force a fourth set. Fognini finally prevailed on his fourth match point in the next set to reach the third round here for a seventh time 

“This is why I love and hate this sport at the same time,” the winner said, “After I lost the set I told myself I was up two sets to one and in control.

“I just tried to enjoy – I think I did a good job today.”

With the No. 2 court crowd roaring their approval and appreciation, Fognini continued:

“Grass is a surface that Ruud doesn’t really like, But he’s Top 10 and I’m 37, so this (win) is a big present for me.

“I’m still playing even if the ranking is going down and the age is moving up. Inside I feel OK.

“I enjoy the competition even if the body doesn’t help me like before.

“I want to enjoy as much as I can – maybe my 14th Wimbledon will be the lucky one,” said the player who has never passed the third round here and had never taken a set off of Ruud in three previous matches.

Flying Finn Emil Ruusuvuori won a struggle lasting for two days, with the No. 87 coming back on Wednesday to complete a match interrupted by darkness the evening before.

Ruusuvuori held his nerve to defeat Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (6), 4-6, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-3 after three and three-quarter hours.

The Finn, who won just a single match on grass at Eastbourne by way of preparation, finished with 66 winners as he stormed back from two sets to one down.

He now takes on 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.

Brandon Nakashima defeated Australian Jordan Thompson, who advanced last month at Queen’s as Andy Murray returned injured after only five games, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

French qualifier Quentin Halys put out American Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Japanese long-term injury victim Kei Nishikori returned to Wimbledon for the first time since 2021 and stepped onto the grass without having played a tune-up match.

The US Open finalist from a decade ago paid the price in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2 loss to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Czech Tomas Machac, who was to have played Murray in the opening round, defeated the Scot’s subsititute David Goffin 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (10-5). Brit Dan Evans went out to Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 7-5, 6-3. 

Main photo:- Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd