The first day of Wimbledon 2026 has wrapped up, concluding today’s thrilling coverage. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for the action, and the excitement will continue tomorrow and for the next twelve days.
Novak Djokovic displayed his exceptional skills on the court, comparing his racket work to a symphonic performance. Clad in a white blazer, he expressed contentment with his victory, recognizing the importance of Wimbledon in his career and lauding Wu for his remarkable display.
This match felt unusually intense for a first-round game, resembling two distinct contests—one played under the sun and another beneath the closed roof. As the conditions turned slippery, Djokovic found it challenging to adapt, acknowledging that Wu applied significant pressure. Although he had never faced Wu before, Djokovic was well aware of Wu’s powerful and flat style of play.
Wu’s high level of performance caught Djokovic off guard, displaying a diverse range of shots with few weaknesses. Djokovic admitted to a stroke of luck when Wu missed an overhead shot at a critical break point, suggesting he might have lost that set given the numerous obstacles he encountered. In matches on grass, outcomes often pivot on a handful of key moments, and Djokovic’s vast experience on this surface proved advantageous.
He expressed a desire to combine his winning experience with a “a new, young, fresh body, that’d really be a winning formula, then thanks the crowd for staying late and he hopes the enjoyed it. Finally, asked about his kids, he says his daughter Tara came up with the violin celebration and she’s meant to have found another one, then that they’re up beyond bedtime. He’s prepared to make an exception. Oh, not finally. Finally, he’s told lots of people are watching and that David Beckham is there; er, and? So he dutifully thanks Beckham because really how kind of him, and that’s that. Wu played really well, in a really entertaining tussle, and I hope he can hit this level more often. It’s in him – he was great as a kid, then got nobbled by injury – and he’ll have proved some things to himself tonight/ Thirty-nine! The man is an absolute freak of nature, and he’s through to face Stefanos Tsitsipas. Tasty! An unreturned serve and, at 40-0, Djokovic has three match points. When it goes, it goes quickly, as Alex Ferguson once said. Djokovic makes 15-0, and though Bu dives to get back a murderous forehand, a drop has him slipping; 30-0. Wu nets a backhand, 0-15; Djokovic caresses a drop-volley, 0-30. Wu, though, responds with a mighty inside-out forehand winner and the crowd again shout his name. I remember the same happening in 2024 when Djokovic played Ruuuuune and he loved it every it as much as you’d have expected. He makes 30-all too, but then Djokovic does really well to stay in the point … and the unforced error eventuates, what an oversight that is. Break point again, so Djokovic takes his time, bringing the crowd into it, hoping Wu has time to think about the pressure. But he quickly takes control of the point … then attempts an overhead he might let bounce, the ball is long, and Djokovic breaks! He’s a game away and will shortly serve for the march as 5-4 in the fourth. At 30-15, Djokovic leads the unforced errors 11-6 in this set, making holding hard for himself in the process. But at 40-15, a mishit that keeps Wu in the point is followed by a perfect lob that Djokovic doesn’t even attempt to get at, and we soon move to deuce. Two unreturned serves, though, secure the hold for 2-1 4-4, and this is such a physical ruckus. They’ve got to finish by 11, but there won’t be time to complete a fifth set, so should we get one, I imagine we’ll defer it till tomorrow. Wu is holding nicely, his latest one to 15, and he leads 4-3 in the fourth. Djokovic looks pretty tired and maybe he’s bluffing, but if he isn’t, he’s going to find this tournament difficult. Djokovic makes advantage again, lashes an ace down the T, and his son Stefan must’ve offered sage advice. He leads 2-1 3-3 having saved four break points and it looks like ultimately, he’ll find whatever this match demands of him. Be very sure, the stuff I’m talking about is more animated than this. Wu holds easily then Djokovvic careless nets from mid-court, then directs a forehand wide; 0-30. And he’s inches from a double to donate 0-40 … only to guide a backhand into the tape. That is three incredibly careless points, and Wu has three chances to break. He can’t nab the first after nashing about the court then coming in for a drop, unable to flick it over and in; an ace follows, then a backhand forced long, and Djokovic has deuce. He stretches off between points, his nipper hollering more advice, but when Wu sends a return out wide, he cleans up with a forehand to make advantage, and the crowd are right behind him. A service winner, though, does the business, of course it does, and back to deuce we go. A Djokovic forehand, carefully watched by Wu, sails long, just; 15-30. Oh, and Djokovic overhits again, so must now face two break points. The first disappears by way of ace … and the second via netted return a 121mph second serve surprising Wu, who beats the turf in exhibition frustration. And though he then saves a game point, Djokovic raises another, takes it, and leads 2-1 2-2. Wu nets a drop for 15-all, but an unreturned serve takes him back in front … only for a careless forehand to out him under pressure at 30-all. From there, though, he secures his hold, sealing it with an ace and forging in front once again in set four at 2-1. Djokovic stops in a punishing rally, winning it for 40-15, but an error makes things close before a beautifully disguised drop takes us to deuce. From there, though, the hold is quickly secured, and Djokovic leads 2-1 1-1. Wu isn’t going away, rushing through a conclusive hold for 1-0 in the fourth. Djokovic, by the way, has only lost in the first round of a slam twice: to Marat Safin at the 2005 Aussie Open when he was just coming through and got a stinking draw, then again at the same tournament the following year, beaten by Paul Goldstein. Goodness me, another advantage and another set point, saved with a devastating forehand, but when Djokovic again makes advantage, Wu flaps a backhand long, and it’s a long way back from 4-6 7-5 4-6 down. Djokovic nets a half-volley at net having done the hard work – all he needed to dow as get the ball back into court. But he outlasts Wu in a long rally of slices, taking a breather as soon as ball hits net, then making full use of his allotted time before serving again; the return goes long for 30-15. But at 40-15, he goes long, then Wu sends him from hither to yon before picking him out with an overhead. Eventually, though, he puts the point away, so to deuce we go, two set points saved. Gosh, and then he unloads on forehands from the back, raising advantage; what a performance this is, facing the greatest of all time on Centre Court and finding the best tennis of his life. But can he break back? Er, not right now, another tremendous serve under pressure followed by a forehand that restores deuce. Djokovic holds, then, at 30-all, finds a stretch-return, then flicks a backhand winner cross-court to break the sideline, raising break point … brutally yanked away by a pair of monstrous forehands. Djokovic, floored by the first of them, does then make advantage, Wu erring on the forehand … then again, and that’s the break for 5-4 in the third! In typical style, he cups an ear at the crowd, daring them to give it more “Wuuuu!” for the ultimate synergy. After thanking the crowd for their late support, he mentioned that his daughter Tara inspired his violin celebration, playfully noting that his children were staying up past their bedtime, hinting he might make an exception for them.
However, that wasn’t the final note of the day. Djokovic learned that many fans, including David Beckham, were watching, and he graciously acknowledged Beckham’s presence.
Wu’s impressive performance contributed to an entertaining match, demonstrating his potential to consistently reach this level despite being plagued by injuries.
At thirty-nine years old, Djokovic continues to surpass expectations as he prepares to face Stefanos Tsitsipas, promising an exciting matchup.
With an unreturned serve, Djokovic found himself at 40-0, holding three match points. The conclusion came quickly, echoing the words of Alex Ferguson.
Djokovic gained a 15-0 advantage, and despite Wu’s efforts to return a powerful forehand, he slipped on a drop shot, bringing the score to 30-0.
Wu faltered with a backhand, bringing the score to 0-15, while Djokovic showcased his finesse with a drop-volley, moving to 0-30. Wu responded with a stunning inside-out forehand winner, drawing cheers from the crowd, reminiscent of their enthusiasm during Djokovic’s earlier matches. Wu leveled the score to 30-all, but Djokovic managed to stay in the point, leading to an unforced error from Wu. Facing another break point, Djokovic took a moment to engage the crowd and apply pressure on Wu. Nevertheless, Wu regained control of the point before attempting an overhead, which he misplayed long, allowing Djokovic to break serve and lead 5-4 in the fourth set.
At 30-15, Djokovic had accumulated eleven unforced errors in the set, complicating his ability to hold serve. Yet, at 40-15, a mishit from Wu kept him in the point, followed by a perfectly placed lob that Djokovic didn’t attempt to chase down, resulting in deuce. Two unreturned serves enabled Djokovic to hold serve, tying the score at 2-1 4-4 in a physically demanding match. With a deadline of 11 PM approaching, it seemed unlikely that the fifth set could be completed, raising speculation that it might need to resume the following day.
Wu efficiently held serve, leading 4-3 in the fourth set. Djokovic appeared fatigued, leading to concerns about his ability to progress in the tournament.
Once again finding his advantage, Djokovic lashed an ace down the T, possibly inspired by advice from his son, Stefan. Leading 2-1 3-3, he had saved four break points and seemed ready to meet the match’s demands.
Every moment has more intensity than I can express.
Wu held serve without difficulty, but Djokovic stumbled, netting from mid-court and sending a forehand wide, resulting in a 0-30 deficit. He narrowly avoided a double fault, but a backhand into the net granted Wu three break point opportunities. Wu couldn’t capitalize on the first after a lengthy exchange, and then an ace followed, along with a long backhand from Wu, bringing the score to deuce. Djokovic, stretching and receiving encouragement from the crowd, ultimately regained the advantage with a service winner, returning the game to deuce.
Djokovic misfired a forehand just long, advancing the score to 15-30. A missed chance left him facing two break points, but he quickly erased the first with an ace and the second with a surprising 121 mph second serve, visibly frustrating Wu. After saving a game point, Djokovic secured the hold, leading 2-1 2-2.
Wu stumbled on a drop shot for 15-all, but an unreturned serve regained his lead, only for a careless forehand to put him under pressure at 30-all. However, he regrouped, sealing the hold with an ace and leading 2-1 in the fourth set.
Djokovic paused during a grueling rally, winning it for 40-15, but a subsequent error narrowed the score before a well-placed drop shot took them to deuce. The hold was quickly secured, leaving Djokovic with a 2-1 1-1 lead.
Wu refused to yield, effortlessly holding serve to begin the fourth set at 1-0. Notably, Djokovic has only lost in the first round of a Grand Slam twice: first to Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open and then to Paul Goldstein the following year.
Djokovic faced another set point, saved by a powerful forehand. However, when he gained another advantage, Wu misfired a backhand long, trailing 4-6 7-5 4-6.
Djokovic mishit a half-volley at the net after a solid rally, but he managed to outlast Wu in an extensive exchange of slices, taking a moment to compose himself. He returned to serve, and a long return brought the score to 30-15. But at 40-15, he went long, and Wu soon forced him to deuce with a well-placed overhead. Djokovic held strong, saving two set points and ultimately elevated his game to maintain deuce. His performance was commendable, facing one of the greatest players on Centre Court and showcasing the best tennis of his career.
Djokovic held serve, and then at 30-all, he found a stretch return before executing a backhand winner that broke the sideline, setting up a break point. Wu responded with two powerful forehands, causing Djokovic to fall behind, but he managed to regain advantage when Wu made another error on the forehand side, breaking serve for a 5-4 lead in the third set. In a familiar display, Djokovic cupped his ear to the crowd, encouraging them to cheer louder, and prepared to serve for the third set as his son celebrated in the stands.
Wu, however, quickly countered with a love hold to tie the match at 1-1 4-3, showcasing his ability to match Djokovic blow for blow. If Wu secures the win, it raises questions about Djokovic’s future in the tournament, particularly given his recent struggles against younger competitors.
Having shown immense promise as a young player, Wu has encountered significant injury setbacks, including a lengthy recovery from various surgeries. Now, this moment serves as a reward for his perseverance, and he has risen to the occasion as Djokovic held to even the score at 3-1 3-3.
Djokovic held for 2-2 and found himself trailing -15, but he leveled the score with another forehand winner, leading us to 30-all. Wu then served out, sealing the game with an ace to lead 1-1 3-2.
Djokovic quickly held serve for 1-1 1-1, and it has been an impressive contest. Wu struck an ace to reach 40-30, then slipped during a crucial point yet managed to get the ball back into play. He won the point with a backhand that grazed the sideline, prompting the crowd to chant his name as Djokovic appeared both amused and perplexed by the loss.
As discussions continued regarding the match’s lighting, Nakashima was leading Pinnington Jones, and the organizers decided to call it a night.
Although Jones put forth a valiant effort, Parry’s skill proved too great, and she will face Kalinskaya, the 19th seed, next.
Following a strong hold from Jones, Parry was forced to serve for the match at 6-4 5-4, and play resumed on the covered Centre Court.
Meanwhile, Nakashima was working hard, breaking back to lead 2-0 2-2, indicating he could finish off Pinnington Jones swiftly.
Continuing the rounds, Parry led Jones 6-4 4-2, as Pinnington Jones trailed Nakashima 3-6 6-7 2-1 after a break, while Bouzas Maneiro claimed victory over the 27th seed, Potapova, in straight sets.
In a pivotal moment, a backhand from Wu sent Djokovic scrambling, leading to another set point for Wu. However, he misplayed the backhand long, allowing Wu to claim the second set and level the match at 4-6 7-5. He appeared to revel in the experience, and if he maintains this high level, he could emerge as a serious contender.
Despite a miscue on a forehand, Wu had set point, putting Djokovic under pressure. As the game progressed, Djokovic delivered a powerful serve that raised game point, but a forehand went long, leading to deuce. Wu clearly had confidence, sensing that this moment was critical; if he could take the set, he would remain competitive.
With relative ease, Wu secured a love hold, ensuring at least a tiebreaker. Djokovic took the changeover to gather his thoughts.
Remarkably, Djokovic has evolved into one of the game’s great servers, holding to 15 for 6-4 5-5. The question looms: Can Wu handle the pressure he faces in the upcoming game?
In other matches, Nakashima broke Pinnington Jones to lead 0-2 1-0.
Wu held for a lead of 4-6 5-4, indicating that Djokovic would soon need to serve to stay in the second set.
Nakashima took the second set against Pinnington Jones, leading 6-3 7-6(5). This concludes the action on No. 1 Court for today, but let’s hear from our winner, who noted the challenges of playing Linette, especially on grass. She expressed happiness with her win but acknowledged the pressure that comes with it.
She reflected on the feeling of winning a slam, stating it’s incredible but also brings heightened expectations and pressure, leaving her feeling the need to perform well consistently. Next time, she hopes to focus less on those pressures, admitting that she thought about them too much today.
She was also surprised to learn she is one of three players admired by Serena Williams and expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment. While she considered playing doubles with Serena at Queen’s, they ultimately decided to focus on singles and would like to practice together but not compete against her.
Linette proved to be a formidable opponent, giving Andreeva a challenging match without ever really threatening to win. Looking ahead, she will face Barbora Krejcikova, the 2024 champion, in what promises to be an exciting matchup.
Diane Parry has taken the first set against Fran Jones 6-4, while Andreeva is poised at 40-0.
With her new title as a Grand Slam champion, Linette may show a different side of her game. Despite her youth, her talent has long indicated she would achieve this milestone, and now that she has, she can play freely.
Thanks to Billy, and hello again. Andreeva has just broken Linette, leading 7-5 5-4, and will soon serve for the match.
Djokovic and Wu both held serve, with Wu leading 3-2 in the second set.
Daniel Harris has returned, so I will hand over the coverage.
