LONDON   -   Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz made a shaky start against unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic but moved through the gears to seal a 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2 victory and power into the third round on Wednesday. The result extended Alcaraz’s winning run at the grasscourt Grand Slam to nine matches but the Spaniard could face a tricky test in his next match against American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe who beat Borna Coric 7-6(5) 6-1 6-3. Third seed Alcaraz broke for a 4-2 lead as Vukic miscued an overhead smash at the net but the Spaniard handed the advantage back to his 69th-ranked opponent three games later and was broken yet again in the opening set to trail 5-6.

He recovered to force a tiebreak, where he took a healthy 5-1 lead, but allowed Vukic to win three straight points only to raise his level again and take the set as Spanish fans breathed a sigh of relief on Court One. From there, it was a ruthless performance from Alcaraz as the 21-year-old showcased his explosive power and delicate touch as he racked up 40 winners to blow Vukic away.

“I’m really happy about my performance. The first set was the key for me. He served for the set, then I played a really good tiebreak. In the second set and third set, I played at a really high level. I’m really happy about it,” Alcaraz said. “It was difficult for me to close the (first) set. I knew it was going to be the same. I had to be there. I put a few returns in, a few winners. It was a good game for me on the return side. “In those situations, you have to increase your level, put the early ball in, try to be aggressive with your style. That’s all I thought about in that situation and it was helpful.”

The French Open champion did not give Vukic any more opportunities and closed out the second set quickly before easing through the third and finishing the match with a flurry of aces. Alcaraz said he was relishing his clash with Tiafoe, having beaten the American en route to his U.S. Open triumph in 2022.

Meanwhile, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev battled his way to a 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5 victory over 102-ranked Alexandre Muller.  Swaggering Italian Fabio Fognini rolled back the years with a dazzling display to knock out Wimbledon eighth seed Casper Ruud 6-4 7-5 6-7(1) 6-3 and reach the third round.

In women’s event, Coco Gauff did not look at her imperious best under the roof on Wimbledon’s Court One on Wednesday but she was always in control of an error-strewn second-round 6-2 6-1 victory over Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni. Gauf now face qualifier Sonay Kartal, who wowed the home crowd, punching her way to a 6-3 5-7 6-3 Wimbledon second-round victory over France’s Clara Burel, ranked 253 places above her.Andy Murray will team up with fellow Briton Emma Raducanu in the Wimbledon mixed doubles tournament after the pair were awarded a wildcard.