Wimbledon Day 1: Sinner survives five-set scare; Gauff, Djokovic advance

2026 Wimbledon kicks off with defending champion Jannik Sinner surviving a five-set opener against Miomir Kecmanovic after overcoming a fall and bleeding foot, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3 in what raised fresh questions about his durability following his recent French Open collapse. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced more smoothly, posting a straight-set win over qualifier Teodora Kostovic despite being broken while serving for the match. On the men's side, Novak Djokovic, fighting to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title in his 21st Wimbledon, fended off Wu Yibing 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a hard-fought four-set battle. No. 7 Coco Gauff ended her grass-court skid with an opening win in just 54 minutes, her fastest victory at the All England Club, defeating Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-1. The day's biggest surprises came in the upsets block: H. Hurkacz, ranked 96, shocked Casper Ruud at 12, while Roman Safiullin, seeded outside the top 100 at 132, defeated Andrey Rublev at 13. British players endured a chastening day, with all 10 Britons who completed their opening matches falling to defeat. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka wowed the crowd with a floor-length white kimono gown, honouring both her Japanese heritage and Wimbledon's all-white dress code, as anticipation builds for Serena Williams' return to singles competition after nearly four years away. Tournament action continues through the opening week, with draws unfolding across both tours.