Jannik Sinner survives five-set scare to begin title defence with an edgy Centre Court win over Miomir Kecmanovic at Wimbledon 2026

"First of all, thank you all for coming (to the crowd). It is such a huge honour to be the first player to come out here on Centre Court and start the tournament," Sinner told the BBC during his on-court interview.

"It was a little tight in the beginning, I didn't play at my very best but I tried to get into it. It was my first official match on grass which is also a very important factor.

"I'm happy I turned it around because the third set was a very tough one to swallow. It is a big honour to play in front of all of you [the Royal Box] so thank you for coming."

On whether he was nervous or excited to defend his title: "It was a very different feeling. There is a lot of nerves when you go down the stairs behind the court. It's also a mental thing knowing it is such a prestigious court.

"Coming back here as defending champion means a lot to me so I'm very happy to have won my first match. Of course I will try to aim for a couple of improvements for my next match, but today I can feel very happy.

"I felt a lot of mistakes on my forehand side in the first set, which is normal so I tried to accept that. I thought I raised my level when I really needed to.

"This is tennis, every day is different, I'm very happy to be in the next round."

Jannik Sinner survived a major scare to kick off his Wimbledon title defence with a five-set victory over Miomir Kecmanovic.

The Italian had to come from behind to prevail 4-6 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-3 and seal progress in three hours and 30 minutes.

The 24-year-old played much of the contest with a blood-soaked shoe, but allayed fears over a significant injury during his post-match on-court interview: "No, I'm good, it seems much worse than it is.

"I'm surprised they allowed me to keep playing, as all white turned into a little red. I didn't want to disturb the rhythm, it is just a nail, I didn't want to take any time, so it's all good."

The world number one’s early exit at the French Open had dissipated the air of invincibility that had seen him dominate much of the season so far and he looked shaky in a 34-minute opening set.

Kecmanovic went toe-to-toe with the top seed and broke from 40-0 down in the ninth game before serving out to love to leave the four-time Major winner with plenty to ponder.

Sinner immediately responded with an early break in the second and went on to level from there in what was proving to be a fast-paced showdown.

The third set was tight throughout, but it was the world number 50 who came up trumps at the death to clinch a tie-break by an 8-6 scoreline.

Alarm bells were ringing in the Sinner camp, but he released some of his obvious tension with an uncharacteristic scream of delight as he broke in the sixth game of the fourth set before breaking again to force a decider.

The Italian suddenly looked far more assured and broke in the sixth game of the fifth before serving out on his second match point to avoid what would have been a second Grand Slam disaster in a row.

Jannik Sinner’s title defence is given an instant test by Miomir Kecmanovic, but the top seed eventually comes through it!

The Italian serves out to 15 on his second match point to claim a rollercoaster comeback win in three and a half hours.

The four-time Major winner will now meet Nuno Borges in R2.

Miomir gives himself one last chance to bite back with a rapid love hold.

Sinner will now serve for a spot in R2.

Sinner moves up to 30 aces and 70 winners as he backs up the break with a love hold.

The finish line is now within sight after a topsy-turvy performance from the reigning champion.

Ouch. That could be curtains for Miomir.

After battling so well throughout this contest, he double faults at 15-30 down and then buckles on the first of the two break points with a poor forehand into the net.

Sinner has been taking care of his service games with the minimum of fuss for a while now and another clean hold keeps the board ticking in his favour.

Sinner is begging to get a bit more joy from a deeper position on the return and he works his way to 0-30 with a rasping backhand down the line that’s too-hot-to-handle.

The Italian is millimetres away from triple break point with a return just long but then hooks a poor backhand well wide.

Miomir digs in on the following rally to lure the error but rushes a forecourt pick-up into the net to prolong the examination at deuce.

The Serbian world number 50 needs a spectacular backhand down the line on the run to resist at deuce and gets his reward for the spellbinding strike as a timely, clutch serve drags him level on the board.

Sinner looks at his camp with an expression to suggest he was rather impressed with himself as he counter punches a clawed, crosscourt pass off a deep, deep return to produce a supreme winner and close-out a hold to love.

Miomir needed that.

The Serb seemed to lose some of his sparkle in that fourth set, but he rekindles it on serve here to hold to 15 and suggest he's ready to leave it all out here now.

Sinner moves on to 27 aces with two more to help him kick off the decider with a ruthless hold to 15.

Kecmanovic can’t convert game point and unravels badly from deuce with a pair of poor errors gifting Sinner the double break and with it the set.

The world number one is back in business heading into the one-set shoot-out and he appears to have the momentum now…

Miomir gets a huge slice of luck with a dead net cord but Sinner is brave with a big second serve at Pulp (30-30) and then comes up clutch with the first delivery to consolidate and move within a game of forcing a fifth.

Kecmanovic makes life difficult for himself when he bunts a forecourt forehand into the net off Jannik’s poor dropper.

The Italian does a better job with the next one and palms away a crosscourt volley off a desperate pick-up to earn break points.

For once, Jannik produces the goods on a key point and his crosscourt forehand does enough to force the error and make the breakthrough.

Cue an uncharacteristic roar from the world number one. Will that ignite help him find another level from here?

Sinner’s serve is ensuring he stays afloat here as aces 22 and 23 keep the board ticking in his favour.

Kecmanovic eases through a hold to 15.

The Serb can sense the upset here and is playing some excellent tennis.

Sinner is way off his best and so far, Miomir has taken advantage.

Sinner slams down ace number 21 as he races through a clean hold to keep his nose in front early in the fourth.

Sinner spews another poor unforced error off a forehand return at Pulp (30-30) and Kecmanovic is again able to take advantage of the let off to clinch the hold.

Sinner opens the fourth set with a routine hold.

There’s no margin for error now for the world number one. He needs to find another level if he’s to ensure his title defence doesn’t come unstuck at the first hurdle.