Defending champion Alcaraz beats Vukic
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz entertained fans on Court One with a stunning second-round victory over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic.
The pair played out a thrilling topsy-turvy opening set before the Spaniard took control and wrapped up a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 victory.
Alcaraz is attempting to win back-to-back major titles after triumphing at the French Open last month.
“I’m really happy about my performance today,” the 21-year-old said.
“The first set was the key for me to pull out all the nerves. It was really close.”
After coming through a five-setter against Sebastian Ofner in the first round, Vukic appeared fatigued and trailed 5-2 against Alcaraz in the first set.
However, he soon sparked to life, dealing with the three-time major winner’s mix of crafty drop shots and powerful groundstrokes to win successive breaks and force a tie-break.
It looked like he would make another comeback in the tie-break, scrapping his way back from 5-1 down to 5-4.
But Alcaraz stepped up the intensity to take the opener before dominating in the final two sets.
Alcaraz defeated seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final
The world number three will face American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe, who he defeated in the semi-finals en route to his US Open win in 2022.
“We played a really good match in the US Open. I know that he is a really talented player, he is even tougher here on grass with his style,” said Alcaraz.
“It’s going to be a really difficult match for me but I’m ready to take that challenge, I’m ready to play a really high level of tennis.”
Tiafoe made it into the third round with a 7-6(5) 6-1 6-3 win against Croatia’s Borna Coric.
Medvedev fights back in gruelling win
Medvedev was defeated in last year’s semi-finals by eventual champion Alcaraz
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Daniil Medvedev fought back from a set and a break down to defeat Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
The Russian fifth seed won 6-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 7-5 after three hours and 28 minutes on Centre Court.
“It was never easy but I managed to stay solid, stay in the match, try to fight back,” said 28-year-old Medvedev.
“I’m definitely happy with the win – I should have played much better but when you win, there is the next round to do better.”
Medvedev, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year, will face Chinese 32nd seed Zhang Zhizhen or Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round.
Eighth seed Casper Ruud fell to a 6-4 7-5 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 defeat by world number 94 Fabio Fognini of Italy.
It is the third year in a row that Norway’s Ruud, who prefers clay and hard-court surfaces to grass, has lost in the second round at Wimbledon.