Bloodstained, Banged Up: Sinner Survives Kecmanovic Challenge on Day 1 at Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner’s first-round match was a trial by fire at Wimbledon. The defending champion endured a treacherous fall, a right foot that never seemed to stop bleeding and a pesky Miomir Kecmanovic – who was hitting backhands to die for – to finally overcame the hurdle in five sets, 4-6 6-3 6-7(6) 6-2 6-3 to set a second-round clash with Portugal’s Nuno Borges. 

Along the way there were bright spots, in the form of 31 aces and zero service breaks surrendered across the final four sets. Enough to help Sinner avoid becoming the second defending men’s singles champion to fall in the first round of his Wimbledon title defense. The honor belongs to Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 – it hasn’t happened since and has happened just twice in the history of the tournament (also in 1967, Manuel Santana). 

“I was a little, little tight in the beginning,” Sinner admitted on court after the three hour and 30-minute triumph. “Didn’t play my very best. It was my first official match on grass – I am happy that I turned it around.” 

Sinner’s day could have been a lot easier had it not been for Kecmanovic’s heroics in the third set. The Serbian saved a set point with an incredible effort at 5-6 in the tiebreak, and then took the next two points to take a two sets to one lead. 

“The third set was a very tough one to swallow,” Sinner said. 

The Italian produced a robust response and marched through the final two sets behind just six points dropped on serve. He converted all three break points he earned. 

“Kind of bummed out, the way it turned out, but at the same time, I’m proud that I was able to play five sets against him, especially since I have never done it against a World No. 1 on Centre Court,” Kecmanovic said. “I’m happy that I was finally able to show some good tennis.”

The Foot, The Bood

Sinner’s only big issue down the stretch was the steadily growing bloodstain on his right foot. It appeared in the third set and never went away. But Sinner, to his credit, shook it off, both before and after the match. 

“It just seems much worse than it is,” he said. “I am actually, very surprised that they let me keep playing… it was just a nail, I didn’t want to disturb Miomir. I think we both had a good rhythm. 
It was a great match from both of us.” 

More important for the four-time major champion was stretching his current Wimbledon winning streak to eight and getting all the pre-tournament jitters out of his system. He had not stepped on the match court since wilting in the heat of Paris as he squandered a two sets and 5-1 lead in the third to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the most shocking moment of the 2026 tennis season. 

“It was a very different feeling,” Sinner said of returning to the scene of his four-set win over Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s men’s singles final at SW19. “There’s a lot of nerves when you go down the stairs, behind the court. 

“Also mentally knowing it’s such a prestige court, and such a historical court, and coming back here as defending champion is a lot to me, even though every year is different every year, you know, can be very tough.” 

Next mission, clean up the forehand and keep moving forward. Sinner made 52 unforced errors, including 21 forehand and 20 backhand. 

“I felt the first couple of sets [I made] a lot of mistakes also from the forehand side. It’s normal, you know? First round matches are never easy, so I tried to accept that,” he said.