Carlos Alcaraz halted one of Taylor Fritz‘s service games while having a problem with one of his eyes. The Spaniarrd got off to a flying start in Friday’s Wimbledon semi-final and broke immediately but had trouble seeing while Fritz was serving at 1-3 and raced over to the umpire, who looked in his eye.

The world No. 2 quickly composed himself and returned to the baseline as Fritz waited to serve at game point. And the trainer was called to the court to help Alcaraz deal with the issue in the next changeover.

BBC commentators were baffled as Alcaraz started digging around in his eye and ran up to the umpire’s chair. The official got down to speak with him as Andrew Castle said: “What is in there? Is it time for a medical timeout? Just a little bit of eye wash, maybe, an ice towel on.”

It’s not the first time Alcaraz has struggled with his vision in a big match. The five-time Major winner also had to call the trainer to help with his eyes during the recent French Open final, and suddenly found himself in a losing position before storming back to win in five sets.

And retired tennis icon Andre Agassi feared Alcaraz was suffering from the same thing.

“Do you remember that [his previous eye issue at the French Open]? He was 4-5 up in the first, took a break with his eye and got down immediately 7-5 5-2,” the American recalled.

“This one doesn’t seem to have lasted that long, so that’s good.”

Alcaraz continued playing but Fritz quickly closed out the game, and the physio rushed onto the court as the players headed to their benches.

He put drops in the Spaniard’s eye before play resumed. This time, Alcaraz didn’t let the match get away from him and he had a set point on Fritz’s serve, but the world No. 5 saved it with a winner.

It was Fritz’s turn to see the physio during the next changeover. The American dived for a ball and grazed his elbow, and needed the cut to be covered up.

Alcaraz swiftly took the first set 6-4 in just over half an hour despite the earlier scare with his eye, serving it out to love.

It was a statement opening set from the two-time defending champion, who hit 12 winners to just three unforced errors and won 100 per cent of points on his first serve.

Fritz is looking to become just the fourth man ever to beat Alcaraz on grass, and the first since Jack Draper last summer at Queen’s.