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Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner return to Wimbledon on Wednesday hoping to move through the second round with fewer problems after both title contenders were pushed into difficult opening matches at the All England Club, the London venue that hosts the Grand Slam tournament.
Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, began his latest Wimbledon campaign with a demanding first-round win over Wu Yibing on Monday. The 39-year-old Serb admitted afterward that he had been under serious pressure, saying he was "really hanging on the ropes in the fourth" and that he "probably should have lost that set."
Djokovic will now face Stefanos Tsitsipas on Centre Court, where he will try to improve on a performance that forced him to dig deep early in the tournament.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion is also trying to become the oldest man to win a major title in the Open era, the modern professional period of tennis. His recent Grand Slam form has raised questions, especially after he exited the French Open in the third round despite taking a two-set lead against Joao Fonseca.
Still, Djokovic goes into the Tsitsipas match with a strong record behind him. He has won his last 11 meetings with the Greek player, including the 2023 Australian Open final and the 2021 French Open final.
Defending champion Sinner also had to fight his way out of trouble in the first round after an awkward fall in the third set left him with a bloodied foot and a two-sets-to-one deficit.
The Italian world No. 1, playing his first match since a surprise French Open second-round loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, avoided becoming only the third defending men's champion to lose in the Wimbledon first round.
Sinner eventually recovered to set up a Centre Court meeting with Portugal's Nuno Borges, the world No. 48. His escape recalled the resilience that helped him end Carlos Alcaraz's two-year reign as Wimbledon champion in 2025.
Serena Williams' Wimbledon doubles comeback with her sister Venus is in doubt after the 44-year-old suffered a knee injury during her singles defeat to Maya Joint on Tuesday.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, is attempting to return after four years in retirement. Her agent said she was "doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match."
In the women's draw, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva faces former Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova in a second-round match that carries a different balance from their previous meeting.
At Wimbledon in 2023, Krejcikova retired injured while Andreeva, then an unknown 16-year-old, led 6-3, 4-0. Three years later, Andreeva is a Grand Slam champion and the fifth seed, while Krejcikova has dropped to 38th in the rankings after an injury-hit spell that included first-round exits at the Australian Open and French Open this year.
Naomi Osaka moved into the next round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Russia's Anastasia Gasanova, saying she had extra motivation to stay in London.
"Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday and I just wanted to be here for longer," Osaka said, adding that she did not want her daughter to have to get on a plane on her birthday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion will next face either Janice Tjen or Daria Kasatkina as she seeks to reach the Wimbledon last 16 for the first time.
Jelena Ostapenko also advanced with a dominant win over Antonia Ruzic and will next play either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or McCartney Kessler.
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