Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic secured his place in the second round of Wimbledon 2026 to meet Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas after overcoming a tough challenge from China's Wu Yibing in the first round at the All England Club, London.
Djokovic was forced to play for three hours and 11 minutes by Wu, who displayed a fearless display, unleashing aggressive shots. However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
"Today's match was really challenging. Wu deserves a round of applause for her incredible performance," Djokovic said after the match.
"I'm happy to win, but honestly, I don't feel very fresh. This match didn't feel like the first half at all," he added.
Wu, who had previously called Djokovic the "GOAT" in a pre-tournament interview, received a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd. Every time the 26-year-old hit a winner, a long "Woooooooo" erupted throughout the stadium, adding to the atmosphere.
Despite continued pressure, Djokovic once again showed his Grand Slam experience. After dropping the second set, the former world number one rallied to take the third set before putting in a solid performance in the fourth.
Djokovic saved six break point opportunities in the fourth set, including three in a row when trailing 2-3. He then earned a crucial break in the ninth game after forcing an error from Wu.
