London, June 30: In an exhilarating first-round match at Wimbledon 2026, world number one Jannik Sinner defeated Miomir Kecmanovic with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3. The Italian player showcased remarkable resilience during the intense 3-hour and 30-minute battle on Centre Court. Despite facing a formidable opponent and a dangerous fall, Sinner managed to secure victory in five sets.
During the match, Sinner committed 52 unforced errors, raising hopes for a significant upset. Kecmanovic displayed exceptional skill in the third set, delivering one of the tournament’s best points. Trailing 5-6 in the tiebreak, the Serbian player made Sinner sprint from one corner of the court to the other before approaching the net, forcing the Italian to dive to the ground.
This was the second time Sinner fell during the set. Earlier, with the score tied at 2-2, the 24-year-old slipped dangerously, twisting his knee inward. The packed stadium gasped at the sight, but Sinner did not require a medical timeout and quickly resumed play.
By reducing his unforced errors and reaching the decisive set, Sinner took control of the match and clinched the win. He concluded a challenging encounter that was far from easy in the first three sets. After overcoming this tough initial challenge, watched by celebrities like David Beckham in the royal box, Sinner secured his place in the second round against Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
As the number one player in the PIF ATP rankings, Sinner has now won 94 matches in major tournaments, tying with Nicola Pietrangeli for the most victories by an Italian player.
Sinner avoided becoming only the third defending men’s champion to lose in the first round at Wimbledon. His impressive comeback performance drew comparisons to last year’s opening match by Carlos Alcaraz, who began his title defense with a tense five-set victory over Fabio Fognini and eventually reached the final, where he was defeated by Sinner.
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