London [UK], June 30: Jannik Sinner dug deep with a blood-stained white trainer to snap his five-set losing streak and begin the defence of his Wimbledon title with victory over Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.
The 2025 champion had not played competitively since a shock second-round loss at the French Open last month and looked in trouble on day one against inspired Serbian rival Kecmanovic, especially after a painful slip in set three on Centre Court.
Sinner battled on despite blood being visible through his right trainer and banished painful memories of five-set defeats to Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Novak Djokovic at majors earlier this year to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-7), 6-2, 6-3.
Victory in three hours and 30 minutes will answer some questions of Sinner's durability after he had lost eight of his previous nine five-set matches, including five in a row before this nervy win.
After Sinner lost a close tight-break in set three, the four-time grand-slam winner rediscovered his best form to win five games in a row and a 31st ace of a gruelling contest helped the Italian get the better of Kecmanovic to progress into round two.
"I was a little tight at the beginning, I didn't play my very best but I tried to get into it and it was my first official match on grass. I am very happy and a big honour to play in front of you," Sinner said.
Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime raced through his tie with Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets and Daniil Medvedev produced an equally assured display to down Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 on Court One.
Tommy Paul wasted little time on court and booked his second round spot after 73 minutes against Alexandre Muller and Joao Fonseca, the 24th seed, eased through with a straight-sets triumph over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Seeds toppled earlier in the day with Andrey Rublev dumped out after a titanic battle with compatriot Roman Safiullin, who triumphed 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (14-12) over the 12th seed during a three-hour-58-minute battle on Court 16.
The 11th seed Casper Ruud exited after a straight-sets loss to 2021 semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz, but highly rated teenager and 23rd seed Rafael Jodar won his first tour-level match on grass in rapid fashion against British wild card Felix Gill inside two hours.
Denis Shapovalov had to retire after he collided with a fence during his match with Pablo Carreno Busta while Camilo Ugo Carabelli also withdrew as he suffered an ankle injury in a slip versus Daniel Merida Aguilar.
Paris dream to Wimbledon nightmare: Chwalinska injured on match point
French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska suffered a cruel exit in the first round at Wimbledon after slipping while on match point.
The 24-year-old from Poland enjoyed a dream run to the Roland Garros final earlier this month, but her Wimbledon appearance turned into a nightmare.
Chwalinska, whose exploits in Paris saw her given a wild card at the Championships and seeded 20, led Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-2 5-2, 30-40 on Sawangkaew's serve when she lost her footing on the baseline.
She got straight back up but had clearly injured her right ankle and grimaced in pain when she tried to run.
Chwalinska called for a medical time-out and had the ankle strapped, but her movement was seriously hindered.
Sawangkaew duly won the second set without dropping another game, and although Chwalinska managed some resistance in the third she was eventually beaten 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Source: Qatar Tribune