<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/didnt-want-doubts-before-wimbledon-italy-tennis-star-jannik-sinner-23637314" rel="nofollow">Reigning champion Jannik Sinner</a> twice fought back from a set down to battle past Serbia&rsquo;s Miomir Kecmanovic and avoid a huge shock in the Wimbledon first round on Monday.
The World No. 1 was in danger of suffering a second successive early Grand Slam exit, after his second-round loss at the French Open last month, but he recovered to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-3 on Centre Court.
<img title="Miomir Kecmanovic" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Kecmanovic_e.jpg" alt="Miomir Kecmanovic" width="1280" height="720" />Miomir Kecmanovic
Sinner would have been the first defending champion to lose in the Wimbledon first round since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003, but he will instead face Portugal&rsquo;s Nuno Borges on Wednesday for a place in the last 32.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was a very, very different feeling. There were a lot of nerves when I went down the stairs to the court, knowing that it&rsquo;s such a prestigious court. Coming here as defending champion means a lot to me,&rdquo; Sinner said in his on-court interview when asked how starting his <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/wimbledon-2026-believe-djokovic-can-win-this-year-says-vijay-amritraj-23637405" rel="nofollow">Wimbledon</a> title defence compared to a regular match.
It is the Italian&rsquo;s first tournament since collapsing from two sets and 5-1 up to lose to Juan Manuel Cerundolo at Roland Garros. &ldquo;I was a little tight in the first set and it was my first match on grass of the season,&rdquo; he added.
Meanwhile, Norway&rsquo;s World No. 11 Casper Ruud suffered a shock defeat to Poland&rsquo;s Hubert Hurkacz by a 4-6, 2-6, 6-7 (9) margin.&nbsp;
In women&rsquo;s singles, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/alexander-zverev-clinches-maiden-grand-slam-title-at-french-open-2026-23634222" rel="nofollow">French Open</a> runner-up Maja Chwalinska crashed out in the opening round after a 2-6, 7-5, 2-6 loss to Thailand&rsquo;s qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
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Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner avoids huge shock in first round, defeats Miomir Kecmanovic