Bloodied but unbowed: Sinner, Djokovic survive Wimbledon scares
Jannik Sinner battled through a brutal moment and a bleeding right foot to open his Wimbledon title defense with a gripping five-set win over Miomir Kecmanovic, while Novak Djokovic endured a demanding test against Wu Yibing before advancing.
The Italian world number one refused to bow out after slipping behind, claiming a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-3 victory and keeping alive the possibility of defending the title in the Open era. The drama intensified when Sinner’s foot was injured in a fall, leaving his shoe stained with blood as he cried out before powering through to the finish.
With two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz still sidelined by a wrist injury, Sinner is emerging as the man to beat. He is chasing a fifth Grand Slam and his first Wimbledon crown since last year’s breakthrough, though this year has not been without trouble—he exited the French Open in the second round after a two-set lead and wilted in the Paris heat.
Ahead of a second-round clash with Portugal’s Nuno Borges, Sinner insisted the latest fitness scare would not derail him. “I’m fine. It looks worse than it is,” he said, brushing off the concern and pointing out that the incident left his white kit stained, not a sign of a serious problem.
Djokovic keeps the chase alive
Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, had to grind through a long, testing match with Wu Yibing to claim a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory. The 39-year-old Serb is aiming for a historic 25th Grand Slam title, and at this stage would become the oldest man to win a major in the Open era if he goes all the way.
The match, witnessed by a star-studded crowd including David Beckham and Bad Bunny, underscored how much ground Djokovic still has to cover this fortnight as he edges toward the later rounds. Afterward, he admitted the first round didn’t feel like a routine start but expressed satisfaction with the win and his next-round preparations. “It was really challenging today, but I’m glad to move forward,” he said, preparing to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two.
Flashes of brilliance and early upsets
Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked woman, breezed past Teodora Kostovic in 65 minutes, 6-2, 6-3, signaling she’s ready to chase another deep run on this surface. In round two, she is slated to meet American MacKenzie Kessler.
In a notable upset, French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska fell to Mananchaya Sawangkaew 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 after injuring her momentum on match point. The 20th seed had been enjoying a fairy-tale run at Roland Garros just weeks earlier, but could not recapture that form on the grass here.
Naomi Osaka made a memorable entrance to court in a kimono-inspired dress, stepping onto the court for her straight-sets victory over Elsa Jacquemot. The four-time Grand Slam champion has become known for her flamboyant outfits, and this Wimbledon look—a ceremonial dress with embroidered cranes and cherry blossoms—was another striking visual.
Norway’s Casper Ruud, the 11th seed and a three-time Grand Slam finalist, was edged by Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) in a tight opener. Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also navigated his way past Alexander Shevchenko in straightforward fashion to keep his hopes alive.
Fresh from capturing her maiden major title in Paris, Mirra Andreeva, the 19-year-old Russian sensation seeded fifth, brushed aside Magda Linette in straight sets and is set to face 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the next round. American Jessica Pegula moved past Darja Vidmanova, while Coco Gauff dominated Tamara Korpatsch to underline the Americans’ growing depth on grass.
