Jannik Sinner joked he was lucky Wimbledon let him continue playing after his blood-soaked shoe turned red during his first-round match. The Italian world number one overcame a huge scare to advance to the second round with a five-set thriller against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Blood-Soaked Shoe Violates All-White Rule
Wimbledon holds a strict all-white dress code, and even the on-court interviewer joked that Sinner's shoe was not 'in keeping with Wimbledon guidelines' due to the extent of the blood. The Italian suffered a notable foot injury, with blood seeping through his shoe, but insisted he was fine.
When asked about his foot after the five-set win, Sinner said: "No, no. I'm all good, it just seems much worse than it is. No, no. I'm actually very surprised they let me keep playing because you know all-white, it turned into a little red. No, no, it just you know a nail. I didn't want to also disturb Miomir, I think we both had you know a good rhythm. It was a great match from both of us so I didn't want to take any time. It's all good, thank you."
Dress Code Rules at Wimbledon
Wimbledon's all-white rule is strictly enforced, requiring players to wear predominantly white clothing and footwear. Any violation can result in penalties, including being asked to change or, in extreme cases, being removed from court. Sinner's bloody shoe, while unintentional, technically breached the code.
The incident occurred during a tense five-set match that saw Sinner rally after a slow start. The 2025 Australian Open champion ultimately prevailed 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, booking his place in the second round where he will face compatriot Matteo Berrettini.
Sinner's Injury Concerns
The foot injury, caused by a toenail issue, raised concerns about Sinner's fitness for the remainder of the tournament. However, the 24-year-old dismissed worries, stating the bleeding looked worse than it actually was. He emphasised that he did not want to disrupt the rhythm of the match by taking a medical timeout.
Sinner's win extended his winning streak on grass to 10 matches, having won the Halle Open title in the lead-up to Wimbledon. He is considered one of the favourites for the men's singles title.
