Defending champion Sinner overcomes slow start to reach third round

Defending champion Sinner overcomes slow start to reach third round Last updated 01 July 2026 4:52pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Jannik Sinner required tie-breaks to win the opening two sets against Nuno Borges Credit: Mike Egerton/PA Tim Wigmore at Wimbledon. Eugene Allen live updates Last updated 01 July 2026 4:52pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email The very best of Jannik Sinner is yet to be glimpsed at Wimbledon 2026. But, even if the version seen so far on Centre Court has not quite matched the sheer relentlessness that characterises Sinner at his best, the world No 1 still sealed a straight-sets victory to advance to the third round. For the bulk of the first two sets, Nuno Borges played terrific tennis, with his aggressive groundstrokes underpinned by powerful serving. Borges held his first ten service games; after losing the first set in a tie-break, he had an opportunity to serve out the second set. At 5-4 and 40-30 up, Borges was a point away from levelling the match. Instead, he slammed his backhand down the line into the top of the net. Sinner then benefited from a fortuitous net cord, tilting the point in his favour before lobbing Borges. With a forehand into the net, Borges lost the break point, then looked to the sky in despair. Such is the brutality of playing Sinner. Nuno Borges squandered a golden opportunity to level the match at one set all Credit: Kirill Kudryavtsev/Getty Images With menacing inevitability, Sinner then won the second-set tie-break imperiously, 7-2. After an early exchange of breaks in the third set, Sinner then closed out a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory. Still, rivals of an optimistic bent might have detected a scintilla of vulnerability in Sinner’s first two matches this year. In his first-round match, when he suffered from a bleeding right toe, Sinner needed five sets to overcome Miomir Kecmanovic. In the opening two sets against Borges, Sinner’s groundstrokes occasionally slipped below their normal preternatural standards. He hit several inside-out forehands long or wide. Against one Borges serve, Sinner’s forehand even thudded into the umpire’s chair, prompting laughs from the crowd. Sinner’s serve was also less unrelenting than normal. He donated a break at the start of the third set by hitting two doubles faults, then began his attempt to serve out the match with another double. But when Sinner used a cunning drop shot to clinch the match, and was then toasted by the crowd, the sense was clear. Even if Sinner doesn’t quite locate his absolute best form, anyone to beat him at SW19 this year will need to be very good indeed. More to follow... Latest updates Tim Wigmore at Wimbledon. Eugene Allen live updates 4:46PM Highest win percentage in men’s tennis Link copied to clipboard 92.9 - Jannik Sinner (92.9%, 39-3) holds the best win rate of any player with 10+ matches at ATP level in 2026, and has equalled Alexander Zverev (39) for the most ATP-level match wins so far this season. Peak.#Wimbledon | @Wimbledon @atptour pic.twitter.com/wR702Lgbtx — OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 1, 2026 4:38PM World No 1 at work Link copied to clipboard Jannik Sinner's court coverage 😤 pic.twitter.com/gjh0LGc8nO — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2026 4:16PM Third-round opponent Link copied to clipboard Sinner will take on American Jenson Brooksby who upset 31st seed Ignacio Buse in straight-sets in his second-round match. Jenson Brooksby will be Jannik Sinner’s third-round opponent Credit: Kin Cheung/AP Photo 4:10PM Sinner wins 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 Link copied to clipboard Sinner opens with a double fault and then stays patient in a long baseline exchange with Borges before levelling up at 15-15. An ace moves the Italian 30-15 ahead. A deep backhand from Borges sees Sinner stretching and unable to put the ball back in play. 30-30.  The Italian then takes the ball out of the sky with a forehand drive-volley winner. 40-30, match point. Sinner goes wide with a forehand-cross. Deuce. Then back behind Borges with a forehand. Match point No 2. And the Italian wins it as Borges scoops a forehand long. 4:03PM Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 5-4 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges, serving to stay in the match, races to 30-0 lead. Sinner goes long with a return and then finds the corner of Borges’ baseline with a backhand winner to move to 15-40. Another backhand winner from Sinner moves the scoreboard to 30-40 and then deuce, as Borges sprays a forehand long. Good net-play gets Borges to advantage before he eventually secures the game. Over to Sinner to try and serve out the match. 3:59PM *Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 5-3 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner starts the game with an ace (21 and counting). The Italian then sees a backhand slice drift long but wins the next two points to bring up two game points. A nice return winner from Borges moves the score to 40-30 before Sinner eventually closes out. One game away now! 3:54PM Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 4-3 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges crashes a backhand approach into the net to hand Sinner the lead. The Italian then sprays a forehand wide as the score moves to 15-15. Borges gets to 30-15 and then 40-15 before going long with a forehand. The unseeded Portuguese holds. 3:51PM *Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 4-2 Borges Link copied to clipboard A solid hold to 15 sees Sinner move to within two games of this third set and the match. 3:48PM Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 3-2 Borges* Link copied to clipboard A visibly frustrated Borges makes the first error in the game before reeling off two quick points to move 30-15 ahead. Sinner gets to 30-30 after a drawing an error from Borges, but some heavy ball striking from the Portuguese gets him to game point. He is unable to see the game out, and in no time, Sinner gets to advantage.  Borges saves break point with a good serve out wide. Deuce. Sinner then goes long with a forehand to give Borges advantage. Return winner gets Sinner back to deuce. An ace followed by a long backhand from Sinner sees Borges eventually close out the game. 3:41PM *Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 3-1 Borges Link copied to clipboard After a slight wobble early on, Sinner holds to 30 to consolidate the break and edge closer to a place in the third round. 3:40PM Sinner continues to break the Borges serve` Link copied to clipboard Uncharacteristically sloppy from Sinner: not one but two double faults, the second losing him the game, just when we had assumed he would cruise the third set. But perhaps he still will. Sinner promptly breaks back Borges again, sealing the game with a trademark backhand down-the-line. Borges had held his first 10 service games of the match; now he’s been broken three games out of four.  3:36PM Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 2-1 Borges* Link copied to clipboard The pair exchange the opening couple of points before Borges edges ahead after good reaction volley on the forehand wing. Sinner comes up another delicious passing shot, this time on the backhand wing, to bring the score to deuce. The Italian gets to advantage and breaks again with another backhand passing shot down the down the line. 3:31PM *Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 1-1 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner, looking to consolidate the break, falls 0-15 behind. The Italian then goes wide with a forehand as Borges moves to 0-30. Borges nets a backhand to move the score to 15-30. A double-fault from Sinner is met with groans from the Centre Court crowd. Two break points to Borges.  Sinner saves the first with a superb serve but then throws down his third double fault to hand Borges the game. 3:25PM Third set: Sinner 7-6, 7-6, 1-0 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Sinner picks up from where he left off in the second set and gets on the board first before Borges levels up at 15-15. A superb hooked forehand passing shot, sees Sinner move to 15-30. Borges gets to 30-30 after coming in off a short forehand. Sinner sprays a return wide to give Borges game point. The Italian gets to deuce and then advantage after two errors from Borges. Sinner nets a return but does eventually break. 3:18PM Terrific tie-break from Sinner Link copied to clipboard That punch of the air by Sinner, when he unfurled a pristine backhand-down-the-line to go 5-2 up in the tie-break, had an ominous feel not both for Borges and the rest of the draw. A terrific tie-break from Sinner; 15 minutes after Borges was serving to level the match at 1-1, he’s instead trailing two sets to none.  3:14PM Sinner wins second-set tie-break 7-2 Link copied to clipboard Sinner goes long with a backhand to hand Borges the first point. 0-1. Some good baseline play sees Sinner draw level. 1-1. The Italian then goes long with a return. 1-2. Sinner throws down an ace out wide. 2-2. Borges nets a forehand after a lengthy exchange. 3-2. Sinner edges ahead after Borges nets a backhand. 4-2. A superb backhand cleanly hits the line as Sinner edges further ahead. 5-2. Sinner goes back behind Borges with a forehand to bring up four set points. 6-2. The Italian closes of the tie-break 7-2! 3:07PM Sinner 7-6, 6-6 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Superb hold from Borges, who holds to love. 3:06PM Crowd liking what they are seeing Link copied to clipboard The crowd are getting more into the match, glimpsing the potential for an unexpected classic. At 40-30 up, Borges slammed his backhand down the line into the top of the net. Then, at deuce, Sinner benefited from a fortuitous net cord, tilting the point in his favour before lobbing Borges. With a forehand into the net, Borges lost the break point, then looked to the sky in despair. Such is the brutality of playing Sinner.  3:05PM *Sinner 7-6, 6-5 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner wins the opening point after an extended exchange. A superb smash brings up game point for the Italian who goes on to hold in emphatic fashion. Borges’ turn to serve to stay in the second set. 3:02PM Sinner 7-6, 5-5 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Good start from Borges who sees Sinner net a return. An error from Borges moves the scoreboard to 15-15 before Sinner gets to 15-30 after an error from Borges on the forehand wing. Borges levels up at 30-30 and then gets to 40-30 after Sinner goes long with a return.  Sinner then gets to deuce as Borges nets his approach-shot. Clever net-play, and a fortunate net-cord, gets Sinner to advantage and the Italian breaks to level things up in this second set. 2:57PM *Sinner 7-6, 4-5 Borges Link copied to clipboard The Italian races to a 30-0 lead before getting to 40-0 after drawing an error from Borges from the baseline. A nice serve-volley play sees Sinner close out the game. Over to Borges to try and serve out this second set after the sitdown. 2:54PM Sinner 7-6, 3-5 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Sinner, smelling blood, gets to 0-30 before Borges brings him in with a drop shot that sees Sinner net a backhand on the slide. More good serving gets Borges out of trouble who closes out the game with a brilliant body serve that jams up the Italian. Superb serving from Borges, backed up by aggressive groundstrokes. Sinner hasn’t had a break point since the very first game of the match.  2:51PM *Sinner 7-6, 3-4 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner, looking like the Sinner from set one, races to a 30-0 lead before throwing down an ace to move to game point. The Italian closes out with a volley. 2:48PM Sinner 7-6, 2-4 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges, giving Sinner different looks from baseline, races to a 40-0 lead before going long with a routine forehand-approach.  The Portuguese holds to 15 to maintain his lead in set two. 2:44PM *Sinner 7-6, 2-3 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner concedes the opening point before throwing down a ninth ace to draw level at 15-15. Borges then pushes a backhand long as Sinner move 30-15 ahead. An attempted drop shot from the Italian does not make it over the net. A T-serve ace brings up game point for the Italian, who holds to stop the rot. 2:41PM Sinner 7-6, 1-3 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges backs up the break in style with a love-hold to move 3-1 ahead in this second set. 2:40PM Sloppy game from Sinner Link copied to clipboard We thought that Sinner would put his foot down after sneaking the opening set. In fact, a sloppy game, culminating in a snatched forehand, gives Borges the first break of the match. You can sense the crowd watching with more intensity, enjoying a far more competitive match than they’d expected.  2:38PM *Sinner 7-6, 1-2 Borges Link copied to clipboard A superb backhand pass gets Borges on the board first. Sinner levels at 15-15 with an overhead before double-faulting to give Borges a look in at 15-30. Sinner nets a forehand to bring up two break points for Borges. Ace saves the first for the Italian. And Borges breaks as Sinner goes long with a forehand down the line. 2:34PM Sinner 7-6, 1-1 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges nets a forehand after having Sinner on the run to fall 0-15 behind. He then levels at 15-15 after drawing an error from the world No 1. A nice drop-shot gives Borges the opportunity finish the point at the net with a volley into the open court before holding to 15.  2:30PM Second set: *Sinner 7-6, 1-0 Borges Link copied to clipboard Unlike the first set, where Sinner was sailing through service games with ease, the Italian is taken to deuce for the first time in this contest. A good serve out wide sees Borges stretch to make the return which lands wide to give Sinner advantage and the Italian holds to get things started in this second set. 2:26PM Sinner edges through the tie-break Link copied to clipboard A fraught set but Sinner edges through the tie-break 7-4 from 3-2 down. By his pristine standards there were glimpses of Sinner vulnerability, missing several inside out forehands or backhands down the line. Still, the point remains: Borges played a near-faultless set of tennis, and still lost. 2:23PM Sinner wins first-set tie-break 7-4 Link copied to clipboard Sinner wins the opening point with a backhand pass. 1-0. The Italian is unable to back up the mini break as he goes wide with a backhand. 1-1. A forehand winner edges the Italian ahead. 2-1. Borges levels as Sinner nets a backhand. 2-2. An ace from Borges edges the Portuguese ahead. 2-3. Sinner levels as Borges goes wide with a backhand. 3-3. Big T-serve from Sinner is returned long from Borges. 4-3. Borges nets a backhand to give Sinner a mini break. 5-3. Sinner then goes wide with a backhand. 5-4. The Italian gets to set point as Borges goes long from the baseline. 6-4. Sinner closes out the tie-break! 2:16PM *Sinner 6-6 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner, serving to stay in the first set for a second time, wins the opening point before Borges gets to 15-15. Sinner then wins three points in quick succession to close out the game. Tie-break we go! 2:14PM Sinner 5-6 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges holds to 15 and guarantees himself at least a tie-break in this first set. Nuno Borges serves Credit: Neil Hall/Shutterstock 2:10PM *Sinner 5-5 Borges Link copied to clipboard Another love-hold for Sinner brings the set to 5-5. 2:09PM Sinner 4-5 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges’ turn to race to 40-0 lead and hold. Sinner will serve to stay in this first set after the break. 2:05PM *Sinner 4-4 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner registers another clean service game, holding to 15 this time. The Italian closed out the game with a nice forehand played back behind Borges. 2:03PM We have a contest on Centre Court Link copied to clipboard Uncharacteristic sloppiness from Sinner at 30-15, missing his inside out forehand down the line. The gasps from the crowd illustrate how unexpected that was. Borges’s serving and groundstrokes have been such that we have a contest. 2:02PM Sinner 3-4 Borges* Link copied to clipboard After exchanging the opening couple of points, a 19-shot rally sees Borges come out on top to move 30-15 ahead, and then 40-15 before closing out the game with his third ace of the match. 1:59PM *Sinner 3-3 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner sails through another service game to love to level the scoreboard in this first set. 1:56PM Borges handling the occasion well Link copied to clipboard Three aces in Sinner’s second service game. But Borges is serving almost as well, and has a hold in the set. He doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the challenge of playing Sinner so far. 1:55PM Sinner 2-3 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges, finding his spots with his serve, quickly gets to 30-0 before some brilliant net-play brings him to 40-0. The Portuguese holds to love for the first time in this contest. 1:53PM Sinner* 2-2 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner wins the opening point after a Borges backhand error. The Italian then follows up with to aces to move 40-0 ahead. Sinner then sprays a forehand wide as Borges gets on the board at 40-15 but Sinner closes out the game with an ace. 1:49PM Sinner 1-2 Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges follows suit, racing to a 40-0 lead before double-faulting.  Sinner gets to 30-40 after drawing an error from Borges on the baseline. Borges holds to 30 after Sinner nets a forehand. Good start from the Portuguese. 1:46PM *Sinner 1-1 Borges Link copied to clipboard Sinner cruises through his first service game, holding to love to draw level in this first set. 1:45PM Hell of a hold from Borges Link copied to clipboard Hell of a hold from Nuno Borges from 15-40 down. He saved one breakpoint with a drilled backhand down the game, then secured the game with a pinpoint volley that landed right on the line. Such are the standards of excellence that playing Jannik Sinner demands. 1:43PM First set: Jannik Sinner 0-1 Nuno Borges* Link copied to clipboard Borges gets things started with an ace before Sinner registers three quick points on the bounce to go up 15-40.  The Italian then pushes a backhand long and then gets wrong-footed by Borges who gets to deuce with a forehand winner. Sinner gets to advantage after Borges nets a forehand. Borges goes down the line with a backhand for a clean winner and then comes out on top after an extended rally to secure the first game of the match. 1:38PM Warm reception for European Ryder Cup team Link copied to clipboard Good afternoon from Centre Court. A warm reception from the crowd for Jannik Sinner, and an even warmer one for members of the European Ryder Cup team who are in the Royal Box. Some clouds means that there is some relief from the heat for spectators not in covered seats.  1:33PM Coin toss Link copied to clipboard Jannik Sinner and Nuno Borges are on Centre Court warming up. Borges won the toss and has elected to serve. 1:24PM McIlroy sighting at SW19 Link copied to clipboard Rory McIlroy, wearing his Masters green jacket, with wife Erica Stoll Credit: Ben Whitley/PA Just spotted Rory McIlroy arriving here decked in his Masters green jacket and with his wife Erica alongside was heading towards the Royal Box. Fellow Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood are also in attendance, as the golfers, as they usually do, descend on the Championships together. McIlroy, who retained his Masters title in April, is allowed to wear his green jacket outside of Augusta National because he is the reigning champion. Otherwise, it has to remain in the ultra exclusive club. This is not Mcilroy’s first time at Wimbledon. Formerly engaged to former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, the Northern Irishman is a huge tennis fan and as well as turning up at majors - he was at last year’s US Open - he often plays with his caddie, Harry Diamond. However, this is the first time he has shown up in SW19 in his green jacket as he did not attend last year. In 2016, England’s Danny Willett wore his green jacket in the Royal Box, having made his major breakthrough three months before. 1:16PM Sinner and Borges meet for a second time Link copied to clipboard Good afternoon and welcome to second-round Wimbledon coverage of Jannik Sinner versus Nuno Borges. Sinner, the defending champion, struggled in his opener against Miomir Kecmanovic, with the Serbian taking the top seed to five sets. The world No 1 awkwardly slipped in the third set and required medical attention but prevailed in the end, coming through 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3. The match on Monday was not short of drama and incident. Sinner seemed to be struggling with a foot injury that turned his white shoes red but said afterwards it was nothing to worry about. “Look, the foot is all good, it just seems much worse than it is,” Sinner said. “It’s just a toenail. I didn’t want to disturb Miomir [and take a medical time-out]. I think we both had a good rhythm. It was a great match from both of us.” Borges had a much easier time in his first-round match. The 29-year-old from Portugal saw off Tristan Boyer in straight sets 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. Borges reached the third round last year which was a marked improvement on his previous showings at SW19 – three first-round exits in a row prior.  This is a second meeting between the two players, with Sinner leading the head-to-head 1-0. The Italian will no doubt be looking to maintain that winning record.