Djokovic Pushes Through Illness to Reach Wimbledon Second Round
Novak Djokovic overcame a mid-match health scare to defeat France’s Alexandre Muller and advance to the second round of Wimbledon. The 38-year-old Serbian, seeded sixth, won 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-2 on Centre Court after battling through visible discomfort and a medical timeout.
Djokovic started the match with clinical precision, dropping just two points on serve in the first set and racing to a 6-1 lead in 30 minutes. But his momentum stalled in the second. Muller, ranked No. 102, saved four set points and then rallied from 2-5 down in the tiebreak to level the match.
Early in the third set, Djokovic requested medical attention. He confirmed after the match that he felt unwell during the second set.
“I went from feeling my best to my worst within 45 minutes,” Djokovic said. “Whether it was a stomach bug or something else, I don’t know. But I found energy again and finished strong.”
The medication appeared to take effect quickly. Djokovic won 10 of the last 12 games, dominating Muller with steady baseline play and a return to form on serve. He closed the match just before the 11:00 p.m. curfew with a love hold.
Muller also took a medical timeout to treat a calf issue but continued to compete despite the physical strain.
Djokovic has now won 40 of his last 42 matches at Wimbledon. His only recent losses came to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 and 2024 finals. He will face Britain’s Dan Evans in the second round.
Sinner Shines in Straight-Sets Win
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner opened his Wimbledon campaign with a dominant 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 victory over fellow Italian Luca Nardi. Sinner needed just one hour and 48 minutes on Court One to move through.
The match marked Sinner’s first Grand Slam appearance since a five-set loss to Alcaraz in the French Open final last month. He showed no signs of fatigue or hesitation, striking 33 winners and breaking serve six times.
“New tournament, new challenges,” Sinner said after the match. “If you don’t enjoy playing here, I don’t know where you will.”
Sinner now faces Aleksandar Vukic in the second round. He has reached at least the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the past three years.
Zverev and Musetti Fall as Seeded Players Tumble
Alexander Zverev became the highest men’s seed to exit after a five-set loss to Arthur Rinderknech. The third seed from Germany fell 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 in a match that spanned two days due to suspension.
Rinderknech, ranked No. 72, scored his first career win over a top-five opponent with the upset. He broke Zverev early in the fifth set and held serve to close the match.
Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti also bowed out in the first round, losing to qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Musetti reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last year.
Other early exits among top seeds included Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev, who were eliminated on Monday.
In other results, Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed from the United States, completed a comeback against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after trailing by two sets. Fritz won 6-7 (6-8), 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 after the match resumed Tuesday.
Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, seeded 28th, lost in five sets to Spain’s Jaume Munar after serving for the match in the fourth set. Munar won 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
Wimbledon continues through July 13 at the All England Club. Djokovic remains on course to match Roger Federer’s men’s singles record of eight Wimbledon titles and extend his Grand Slam total to 25.
