Fabio Fognini’s parting gift: Carlos Alcaraz’s shirt for his son Federico

Fabio Fognini left Centre Court with no win, sore legs, and Carlos Alcaraz’s shirt — a gift for his son Federico.

The Italian veteran may have played his last match at Wimbledon, but he made sure it ended with a smile and a souvenir after taking the defending champion to five sets.

Fognini had joked before the match that he’d forbidden his son from greeting his idol Alcaraz. Turns out he wasn’t kidding about the admiration — just saving it for the end. After pushing the world No. 2 through four hours and 37 minutes of punishing rallies in sweltering conditions, the 38-year-old walked over and asked the Spaniard for his shirt. Alcaraz, ever the showman and sportsman, happily handed it over.

“Give me your t-shirt, Charlie. Can I have your t-shirt for Federico?” the Italian asked after the match.

It was Fognini’s 15th appearance at the All England Club — and perhaps his last.

“It’s hard to say anything. This is the best way to say goodbye to Wimbledon — and maybe to tennis,” he said, leaving the door ajar for a possible farewell announcement in the coming days.

On a day when even the grass looked like it wanted to lie down, Alcaraz found himself in unexpected trouble.

Temperatures hit 32°C — the hottest opening day on Wimbledon record — and the defending champ had to dig deep for a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win over a red-hot (literally and figuratively) Fognini.

It was the first time since Roger Federer’s near-miss against Alejandro Falla in 2010 that a men’s defending champion had been dragged to a fifth set in the first round. Alcaraz finished with 62 unforced errors, one shirt fewer than he started with, and a lot to think about.

“I just tried to play my best, but I would say that I could play better,” said the Spaniard, who is now 18-0 in Grand Slam first rounds. “I don’t know why it is probably Fabio’s last Wimbledon, because the level he has shown shows he can still play for three or four more years.”

The five-time major winner also showed his class off the court. When a spectator fainted during the match, Alcaraz was among the first to help, handing over a bottle of water as medics arrived.

He now faces British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round and is aiming to become just the fifth man in the Open Era to win three or more Wimbledon titles in a row — after Borg, Sampras, Federer, and Djokovic.

Even the fans weren’t spared the furnace-like conditions. Former England football captain David Beckham and ex-Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate were spotted watching from the royal box — presumably thankful they weren’t the ones doing shuttle runs in 32°C heat.

As for Fognini, he might be limping off into the sunset soon. But for one last afternoon at Wimbledon, he gave us flair, fire, and a shirt swap for the ages.