Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner narrowly avoided a first-round exit on Monday, overcoming Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in a tense five-set battle at the All England Club. Sinner, currently the world No. 1, secured a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 victory after three hours and 30 minutes of play.
The match was defined by a moment of concern in the third set when Sinner slipped on the grass, landing awkwardly with his knees bent inwards. While the incident drew gasps from the Centre Court crowd, the 24-year-old declined a medical timeout and managed to regain his momentum. Despite committing 52 unforced errors, Sinner’s resilience allowed him to dominate the final two sets.
“I was a little tight in the beginning. I didn’t play my very best, but I tried to get into it,” Sinner said following the match. With this win, the Italian equals Nicola Pietrangeli’s record for the most match victories at major tournaments by an Italian player. Sinner is now set to face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the second round as he continues his quest to defend his title.