The China Mail - Bloodied but unbowed: Sinner avoids shock exit at start of Wimbledon title defence

Sinner was pushed to the brink of becoming only the third male defending champion to lose in the Wimbledon first round before battling back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-3.

Trailing by two sets to one, the Italian world number one dug deep to win his first five-set match in his last six attempts.

Sinner's gutsy victory in three hours and 28 minutes was all the more commendable after he injured his right foot in an awkward fall that left his shoe covered in blood.

He let out a shriek of pain and was motionless for several moments before gingerly resuming play.

With two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz still sidelined by a wrist injury sustained in Barcelona in April, Sinner is the clear favourite to become the 10th man in the Open era to retain the trophy.

He is bidding for his fifth Grand Slam title and his first since his maiden victory at the All England Club last year.

But the 24-year-old hasn't reached a Grand Slam final this year and crashed out of the French Open in the second round, blowing a two-set lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo as he wilted in the stifling Paris heat.

Ahead of Wednesday's second round clash with Portugal's Nuno Borges, the Italian insisted he would not be affected by his latest fitness concern.

"I'm good. It just seems much worse than it is. I'm actually very surprised that they let me keep playing because my all white outfit turned into a little red! It is just a nail," he said.

"Coming back here as defending champion means a lot to me so I'm very happy to have won my first match."

French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska crashed to a shock first-round defeat against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew after suffering an injury on match point.

Just weeks after her fairytale run as a qualifier at Roland Garros, Chwalinska was unable to recapture her clay-court magic on the grass of the All England Club.

The Polish 20th seed, beaten by Mirra Andreeva in the French Open final, took the first set against Sawangkaew, but crumbled over the final two sets as the world number 164 clinched a memorable 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

- Flamboyant Osaka -

Japan's Naomi Osaka made a spectacular entrance as she arrived on court in a kimono-inspired dress.

Osaka has become known for wearing flamboyant outfits before starting her matches and the four-time Grand Slam champion's Wimbledon costume was eagerly-awaited.

With fans and photographers crowded around Court Three prior to her straight sets first-round win against France's Elsa Jacquemot, Osaka didn't disappoint.

To match the All England Club's strict all-white dress code, the 28-year-old wore a kimono-style ceremonial dress decorated with embroidered cranes and cherry blossom.

In Alcaraz's absence, seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic will be one of Sinner's main rivals.

Djokovic, who opens against Chinese world number 102 Wu Yibing, is taking inspiration from fellow veteran Serena Williams as he targets another slice of tennis history.

The 39-year-old Serb is chasing an all-time record of 25 Grand Slam singles titles among men and women.

Williams' remarkable comeback aged 44 -- motivated by a desire to play in front of her two young daughters -- prompted him to seek out the American legend this week.

"I told her that whatever happens, what she's doing is truly inspirational for me personally, I'm sure for millions around the world," Djokovic said.

Elsewhere on opening day, Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud -- a three-time Grand Slam finalist -- slumped to a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) defeat against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Russia's Andrey Rublev, seeded 12th, was eliminated by compatriot Roman Safiullin in a five-set thriller that went to a last-set tie-break.

American fourth seed Jessica Pegula enjoyed a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Darja Vidmanova.

Later, women's world number one Sabalenka faces inexperienced Serb Teodora Kostovic.

P.Ho--ThChM