Wimbledon 2026: Djokovic in action, Sabalenka and Osaka advance, Sinner taken to five sets on day one

Wimbledon 2026 opened on June 29 with several headline names from the top half of the draw in action, and the first day already produced a mix of routine wins and a taxing five-set battle.

Aryna Sabalenka moved through her opening match against Teodora Kostovic, while Naomi Osaka also advanced after beating Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5. Those results kept two of the biggest women's contenders on track as the tournament began.

Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, was taken to five sets by Miomir Kecmanovic in one of the standout matches of the day. The length of that contest adds an early physical burden to his title defence, with more matches still to come across the fortnight.

Novak Djokovic was also in first-round action on Centre Court against Wu Yibing. His result was still the subject of live coverage as the day unfolded, so the match remained a key part of the opening-day picture rather than a finished result in this early report.

Opening-day picture

The first day of the Championships, which run from June 29 to July 12 at the All England Club in London, was shaped by the top half of the draw. The live coverage also reflected the wider significance of the early matches: a strong start for Sabalenka, a clean win for Osaka, and a long, demanding outing for Sinner.

AP had already noted Sinner, Sabalenka and Djokovic among the featured opening-day players, and the same day brought confirmation that Osaka had delivered one of the more notable straight-sets wins of the opening round.

What to watch next

The main questions coming out of day one are straightforward: whether Djokovic completes his opening match cleanly, whether Sinner recovers quickly from the five-setter, and whether any later-day upsets or retirements reshape the top half of the draw.

For now, the opening day has done what Wimbledon opening days often do: set the tone without settling the tournament.