World No 1 Triumphs 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3
Jannik Sinner overcame a fall and a bleeding foot to secure a hard-fought victory in his Wimbledon opening match.
Challenges and Criticism Ahead of Wimbledon
Following a difficult period after the French Open, much of the discussion around Jannik Sinner centered on his physical endurance. Concerns were raised about his vulnerability in warm conditions and his underwhelming five-set match record, which stood at six wins and 12 losses, a statistic considered below expectations for a player of his caliber.
It was therefore fitting that Sinner immediately faced another five-set challenge upon his return to competitive play. This time, the world No 1 maintained his composure and physical resilience, rallying from two sets to one down against a determined Miomir Kecmanovic. Sinner opened his title defense on Centre Court with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Recalling the French Open Setback
At the French Open, Sinner had entered as one of the top contenders, arguably the most favored to win the title aside from Rafael Nadal at his peak. However, his campaign ended abruptly after a dramatic collapse in the second round, where he lost 18 of the final 20 games against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo despite holding a commanding lead of 6-3, 6-2, 5-1.
Since then, Sinner has undergone extensive testing and adjusted his training regimen to prevent a recurrence of such a collapse.
Humanizing the Machine
Previously, many of Sinner’s opponents described his playing style as robotic or machine-like in its efficiency. The French Open loss revealed his human vulnerabilities and highlighted the difficulty for any player, including Sinner, to consistently perform at their peak under varying conditions. Notably, Sinner chose not to participate in any grass-court tournaments prior to Wimbledon, which contributed to a degree of rustiness in his game.
Despite these challenges, from a deficit of two sets to one, Sinner managed to compose himself and find a route to victory.
“I always enjoyed this moment because what emotions I felt last year, it was the first time that I felt in this way, in a very happy way,” Sinner said. “Coming back here and opening and play on Centre Court, this year was a year where nobody practised on it before, so it was brand new. Mentally, you know it. “It has been an amazing, amazing day for me to feel this way at least once in my life. Yeah, I think I handled the situation still quite well. Yeah, it was very nervy, but very happy that I found a way today.”
Early Struggles and a Costly Fall
Sinner appeared tense and lacking confidence from the outset. After a series of routine service holds, he was serving at 4-4 in the first set with a 40-0 lead when he suddenly faltered. He committed two consecutive double faults from 40-30, followed by a forehand error on break point, marking his fourth consecutive unforced error and conceding the game. In a swift turnaround, Kecmanovic won nine consecutive points to claim the set.
While a shaky start in a best-of-five match is not uncommon, especially in a player’s first grass-court match of the season, Sinner continued to struggle even after winning the second set. His error count increased steadily, and his play was tentative during critical moments. His confidence was likely affected by a bad fall at the start of the third set, which caused his right foot to bleed visibly.
Despite the injury, Sinner reassured fans about his condition:
“I’m good. It just seems much worse than it is. Actually, very surprised that they let me keep playing because, you know, all white, it turned into a little red. But I didn’t want to disturb Miomir. I thought we both had a good rhythm, it was a great match from both of us so I didn’t want to take any time.”
Kecmanovic’s Bold Play and Sinner’s Recovery
While Sinner was tight, Kecmanovic played assertively, especially during the tense tie-break in the third set. The Serb took control by moving forward on the baseline, taking the ball early, and skillfully redirecting shots from both wings, which helped him secure a two sets to one lead.
After a brief break, Sinner returned with renewed focus. He served strongly from the outset of the fourth set, allowing him to regain rhythm and timing on his groundstrokes. The Italian also showed increased emotional intensity, combining fist pumps with audible shouts of “let’s go” that resonated throughout Centre Court.
He finished the match in control, dominating baseline rallies and showcasing improved serving, firing a career-best 31 aces. His confidence steadily returned as he closed out the match.
“I was a little tight at the beginning, I didn’t play my very best,” Sinner reflected. “I tried to get into it, it was my first official match on grass. This also is very important – happy that I turned it around because the third set was a very tough one to swallow.”
