Carlos Alcaraz overcomes stubborn challenge of Aleksandar Vukic

Carlos Alcaraz survived a first-set wobble before racing into the Wimbledon third round.

The defending champion from Spain was broken twice by Australian world number 69 Aleksandar Vukic after serving for the opening set.

Vukic, 28, had form for upsetting the Spaniard, having beaten the then 17-year-old in French Open qualifying four years ago.

But there was to be no repeat as Alcaraz managed to break back to force a tie-break, which he dominated, and never looked back.

The 21-year-old went on to register a 7-6 (5) 6-2 6-2 victory, spending just an hour and 48 minutes on Court One.

"I'm really happy about my performance today," he said. "The first set was the key for me. He served for the set and then I played a really good tie-break. In the second and third I played a really high level so I'm really happy about it."

Alcaraz will face American Frances Tiafoe in the third round on Friday.

Swaggering Italian Fabio Fognini rolled back the years with a dazzling display to knock out eighth seed Casper Ruud 6-4 7-5 6-7(1) 6-3.

The 37-year-old former top-10 player, these day sporting peroxide blond hair, produced his trademark brand of languid shot-making to largely dominate Ruud on Court Two.

An early break of serve after a short rain delay was enough for him to take the first set.

Fognini was knocked out of his smooth stride when he suffered a heavy fall on the lush turf but dusted himself down to take the second set with a break of serve in the 12th game.

He appeared to be on the brink of victory against a flat-looking Ruud when he led 5-2 30-0 in the third set with a double break but twice failed when serving for the match.

Ruud dominated the tiebreak to extend the match but Fognini continued to call the shots in the fourth set and