Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner survived a five-set thriller against Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday, advancing to the second round despite a bloody fall and lingering concerns over his fitness. The world No. 1, who arrived at Wimbledon with questions about his stamina after a shocking early exit at the French Open, battled through a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 victory in a match lasting three hours and 30 minutes.
Sinner, who slipped at the baseline in the third set, briefly clutched his left hip but continued playing. His right shoe became stained with blood after a nail injury, though he downplayed its severity. "I'm good," he told reporters. "It just seems much worse than it is." He also joked about the all-white dress code, saying he was surprised officials allowed him to keep playing.
The Italian, who has won four Grand Slam titles, including last year's Wimbledon, acknowledged the physical and mental challenges of the match. "One fall is a tough one because you can get injured," he said. "Grass courts are like this, especially early in the tournament when the grass is new." He credited his preventative training before Wimbledon for helping him recover quickly.
Sinner’s victory came amid a tough day for British players, with several seeded men’s and women’s players losing in the first round. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the women’s top seed, cruised past Teodora Kostović in straight sets. The absence of Carlos Alcaraz, the injured world No. 2, leaves Sinner as the overwhelming favorite to retain his title.