London, June 30 -- Two-time defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz survived a dramatic first-round scare on a sweltering Centre Court, edging past Italy's Fabio Fognini in five sets to begin his title defence today. In a four-hour, 37-minute marathon that tested endurance and nerve, Alcaraz emerged victorious 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 on the hottest opening day in Wimbledon history, with temperatures reaching 31.4degC. Fognini, 38 and playing his final Wimbledon, turned back the clock with sublime shotmaking and spirited resistance, pushing Alcaraz to the brink. But the Spaniard, World No. 2 and 2024 French Open champion, held his nerve to extend his Grand Slam first-round record to 18-0 and notch a 15th consecutive Wimbledon win. "I ...