Jannik Sinner Survives Five-Set Scare to Launch Wimbledon Title Defence

Defending champion Jannik Sinner survived a major first-round scare at Wimbledon , battling back from a set down twice to defeat Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in a gripping five-set contest and keep his title defence on track on Monday.

Playing the traditional opening match on Centre Court , reserved for the reigning men's singles champion, the world No. 1 was pushed to the limit before securing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3 victory in three hours and 30 minutes.

The Italian star showed remarkable resilience as he recovered from losing the opening set and then falling behind again after dropping a tense third-set tiebreak. Sinner also had to overcome a worrying moment during the match when he tumbled on the grass, briefly raising concerns about his physical condition. However, he regained his composure and dominated the final two sets to seal his place in the second round.

The hard-fought win came just a month after Sinner endured a disappointing campaign at the French Open , where he suffered a dramatic collapse against Juan Manuel Cerundolo . In Paris, Sinner had been within one game of completing a straight-sets victory in the second round before losing in five sets. He had also struggled with dizziness during a heatwave at Roland Garros, making his Wimbledon return a closely watched affair.

Despite the early challenge from the world No. 50 Kecmanovic, Sinner avoided joining a rare list of defending champions to suffer a first-round exit at the All England Club. The only men's singles champion in the Open Era to lose in the opening round while defending the title remains Lleyton Hewitt , who was beaten by Ivo Karlovic in 2003.

Played under sunny skies and pleasant conditions, with temperatures around 24 degrees Celsius , the match provided an early test of Sinner's title credentials. By overcoming adversity and a determined opponent, the top seed demonstrated the fighting spirit required to remain among the favourites for this year's Wimbledon crown.