Novak Djokovic began his campaign for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title by defeating China’s Wu Yibing in the first round of Wimbledon. The victory maintains his flawless record of never losing a first-round match in 21 appearances at the All England Club.
The match ended 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after three hours and 12 minutes of intense play. Although Djokovic secured the win, he admitted to feeling physically drained, noting that the contest felt far more grueling than a typical opening round. It was his first competitive appearance since losing to Joao Fonseca at the French Open.
Throughout the match, the Centre Court crowd frequently chanted for Wu, mirroring the atmosphere Djokovic previously encountered during his matches against Holger Rune. Despite facing significant pressure and an opponent who displayed few weaknesses, the seventh seed managed to save six break points in the final set before clinching the victory.
Following his win, which he celebrated with a violin gesture dedicated to his daughter, Djokovic acknowledged the high level of play brought by Wu. He is now set to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round, a familiar opponent whom he previously defeated in two major tournament finals.
