Sinner Overcomes Early Exit Threat
Jannik Sinner survived a huge scare to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets and ensure his Wimbledon defence did not fall at the first hurdle. The world number one triumphed 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 on Centre Court, battling through a physical and emotional rollercoaster.
Few would have been happier than the top seed to see a drop in temperatures on the opening day at SW19. The Italian wilted in the French Open heat last month, collapsing to defeat from 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 up. He must have had concerns when arriving in London to last week's temperatures rising above 35C.
Fightback After Two Sets to One Down
Kecmanovic led by two sets to one and made the heavy tournament favourite sweat. The red stain coming through his white trainers suggested Sinner was bleeding too. After one nasty fall in the third set, he looked hurt as well. Eventually Sinner came good. His best tennis arrived when the margin for error was at its smallest.
Asked about his fall and his bleeding foot, Sinner said: "No, no I'm good. It just seems much worse than it is. I'm actually very surprised that they let me keep playing because my all white outfit turned into a little red! It is just a nail. I didn't want to disrupt Miomir either because I thought we both had a good rhythm. It was a great match from both of us so I didn't want to take any time off the court. It is all good though, so thank you for asking."
Kecmanovic's Unlucky Draw
Kecmanovic must by now be wondering quite why the Wimbledon draw has it in for him. This first-round showdown on Centre Court with the defending champion should not have come as much surprise. In 2022, Kecmanovic was dispatched by fellow countryman Novak Djokovic. Two years later, Sinner eased to a straight-sets win in the third round over him. Last year, Djokovic again stood in Kecmanovic's way.
This was another less than ideal match-up for the world number 50 but he made a strong start. He brought up two break points in the third game and while he could not take those, Sinner was in more generous mood later in the set. The top seed had not settled into his relentless rhythm and that showed with consecutive double faults to gift Kecmanovic another break point at 4-4. When Sinner then slapped a forehand into the net, the Serb stepped up to serve for the set. He did so comfortably, wrapping up a set he won without facing a single break point.
Sinner Levels, Then Falls Behind Again
Sinner finally got his first break points of the match and took the first of them. The second serve continued to look shaky but he defied that to move 3-0 up. However, Kecmanovic kept himself within touching distance. There were very few unforced errors and Sinner could not pull away. At 4-2, Kecmanovic brought up a break point to get it back on serve. His forehand dropped just long and with that scare seen off, Sinner finally eased through the rest of the set to level the match up.
Yet that did not spark a cruise to the finish line. Sinner called for more noise early from the crowd in the third set after dropping a sublime drop shot over the net, but a minute later he was crumpled in a heap on the floor. The world number one's leg collapsed underneath him as he tried to change direction behind the baseline and he screamed out in pain, gingerly getting up holding his hip. With Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz already out injured, Wimbledon chiefs must have been grimacing too.
His movement did not appear to be hindered and he brought up three break points at 3-3 and another at 5-5. None were taken and the wastefulness was ultimately punished. The set went to a tie-break and Sinner was initially on top. He led 3-0 and then 6-5, but at set point down Kecmanovic held firm with the best point of the match, finally putting the ball away as a sprawling Sinner lay on the ground. That levelled the tie-break. Two points later, Sinner went long and Kecmanovic moved a set away from victory.
Dominant Finish in Fourth and Fifth Sets
That did not bode well for the top seed, who had won just one of his last nine five-set matches. Sinner has never won a match that was longer than four hours. Handy, then, that he went through the gears to get the job done inside that mark. Kecmanovic was ground down as the fourth set went on, Sinner working him around the court and getting the break to lead 4-2. That was greeted with a rare show of emotion from the Italian. It felt like a body blow to Kecmanovic, who found himself being pushed further and further behind the baseline. Sinner’s advantage became a double break as he took the set to force a decider.
Momentum was firmly with him now, an opening hold at the start of the fifth set making it five games in a row for Sinner. His serve was far more secure, not facing a single break point from the third set onwards. The contrast was clear. Sinner dropped just one point in his first three service games in the decider. Kecmanovic had to fight for everything at the other end and the pressure told. A double fault gifted Sinner break points and Kecmanovic did the job for him with a poor forehand. That moved Sinner 4-2 in front and the contest felt effectively over. The Mexican Wave that went around Centre Court, involving David Beckham among others in the Royal Box, indicated as much. When Kecmanovic shanked a forehand long, that was finally confirmed. Blood, sweat, but no tears for Sinner.
Sinner will be back on court on Wednesday to face Nuno Borges in the second round.
