Defending champion Jannik Sinner launched his Wimbledon title defense with a hard-fought five-set victory over Miomir Kecmanovic on Centre Court.
The Italian world number one defeated the Serbian world number 50 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-3 in a match lasting three and a half hours on June 29, 2026.
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Sinner recovered from an opening-set deficit and an awkward tumble to avoid becoming the third defending men's champion in Wimbledon history to exit in the first round.
Physical Struggles and Comeback
The four-time major winner entered the grass-court Grand Slam without any warm-up tournaments on the surface.
This raised questions about his durability after he suffered a stunning second-round collapse at the French Open in May, where he lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo after holding a two-set lead.
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Spectators expressed concern when Sinner slipped behind the baseline in the third set and required assistance from the umpire before continuing.
Physical issues persisted into the fourth set, with blood leaking from his footwear. Sinner later attributed the incident to a problematic toenail.
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Despite these setbacks, the top seed improved his record in five-set matches and secured a spot in the second round.
