Jannik Sinner escaped a major scare in his opening Wimbledon match, fighting through five sets against Miomir Kecmanović after dropping the first and third. He now continues his Wimbledon title defense against Nuno Borges on Wednesday.
Jannik Sinner looked like he might be headed for an early Wimbledon exit. Instead, he dragged the match back under his control—set by set, moment by moment—until the grass court finally gave him the last word.
On Centre Court, the top-seeded world No. 1 survived a scare against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanović in a match that stretched to five sets. Sinner dropped the first and third sets before rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-3 victory.
The tension didn’t come only from the scoreboard. During the match, Sinner had to navigate a possible injury after blood appeared to be seeping from his foot through his shoe. After the win, he sounded calm—but also clearly surprised by how quickly the moment could have turned.
“I’m good,” Sinner said in his post-match interview. “Actually (I’m) very surprised they let me keep playing because all white, that turned into a little red. I didn’t want to disturb Miomir. I think we both had good rhythm. It was a great match from both of us so I didn’t want to take any time (out). It’s all good, thank you.”.
Despite the earlier French Open exit that ended his last Grand Slam appearance—where he melted down in the second round—Sinner found a way to summon energy on Wimbledon’s stage. Even after slipping. he kept pushing. breaking Kecmanović in the sixth game of the final set to seize control. then serving out the match.
The stakes of that escape were heightened by Wimbledon history. A defending men’s champion hadn’t lost in the first round since Lleyton Hewitt did so to Ivo Karlovic in 2003.
After prevailing in the five-set thriller, Sinner will continue his Wimbledon title defense on Wednesday in a second-round match against Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Wimbledon Jannik Sinner Miomir Kecmanović Nuno Borges ESPN Wimbledon 2026 Centre Court
Five sets… bro just refused to lose I guess.
Kinda wild they let him keep playing if his shoe was bleeding?? Like how is that allowed at Wimbledon lol. Glad he’s good but that sounds scary.
I thought Sinner was done after the first set, then he dropped the third, and I’m like ok wait which one is real. Also does red blood happen often in tennis shoes or was that just made up drama.
This is why I don’t trust grass courts. One slip and next thing you know the guy is bleeding and still advancing like it’s normal. And the defending champ thing?? I swear it’s always some random stat like “hasn’t happened since 2003” and then it does. Anyway Borges Wednesday better watch his step.