Sinner outlasts Kecmanovic in five sets at Wimbledon after dropping the opener

Jannik Sinner defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3 in the first round at Wimbledon on June 29. The match took place at the All England Club in Wimbledon, England. Sinner, the world No.

1 and defending champion, trailed after the first set but recovered to win in five. He held a 4-0 head-to-head record against Kecmanovic before the match. IBM watsonx assessed a 76 percent likelihood of a Sinner victory at the start, with the temperature at 73 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sinner had won all five Masters 1000 events on different surfaces earlier in 2026. He lost in the second round of the French Open to Juan Manuel Cerundolo after leading in the third set, dropping 18 straight points and seven games while feeling dizziness, fatigue and weakness. Sinner skipped grass-court lead-in events and arrived early in London to practice.

He and his team focused on small details and changes during 2½ weeks of training. Sinner said he felt well-prepared. During a BBC-recorded practice session, Novak Djokovic advised Sinner to enjoy walking out on Centre Court as defending champion.

"It was a little tight in the beginning," Sinner told the crowd after the match. "Didn't play my very best but tried to get into it.

It was my first match [of the season] on grass. " "It was a very, very different feeling," Sinner added on court.