World number one Jannik Sinner opened his Wimbledon title defence with a gruelling 4-6 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 6-3 victory over Miomir Kecmanovic in a match that lasted three and a half hours. The Italian fought back from a two-sets-to-one deficit, surviving a spirited challenge from the 50th-ranked Serb on Centre Court. Sinner appeared unsteady after slipping behind the baseline during the third set, prompting the umpire to check on his condition before he resumed play. Blood was later seen seeping from his shoe in the fourth set, which he attributed to a damaged toenail, yet he managed to lift his performance in the final two sets.
This was Sinner's first match since his shocking second-round exit at the French Open, where he lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo despite leading two sets and 5-1. He skipped all grass-court warm-up tournaments, making his return at Wimbledon under intense scrutiny. Kecmanovic, though lower ranked, played aggressively and claimed the third-set tiebreak after saving set points, pushing Sinner to the brink. The defending champion has now won only one of his last nine five-set matches prior to this outing, underscoring the pressure he faced. His resilience in the final two sets prevented him from becoming just the third defending men's champion in Wimbledon history to fall in the opening round.
Sinner's survival despite physical discomfort and poor recent form in extended matches exposes the risks of skipping warm-up tournaments at this level. That he needed such a taxing comeback against a player ranked 50th questions his readiness for the challenges ahead. No African or Nigerian player featured in the match.
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