ATP Tour

'Nervy' Sinner on opening Centre Court play & R1 fightback

At 4 p.m. on Monday, Jannik Sinner was staring down trouble on Centre Court. Inspired Miomir Kecmanovic led the World No. 1 and defending champion by two-sets-to-one and was threatening one of the year's biggest upsets.

Just over an hour later, the danger had passed. By 5:10 p.m., Sinner had completed the escape act, battling back to win in five sets and keep his title defence alive. Afterwards, the Italian revealed he had remained calm even when the pressure was at its highest.

“I had my chances in the third set. I couldn't use them,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference. “I played a couple of points in the tie-break, you need to accept. Tried to reset myself as fast as I could. Trying to hold serve in the first couple of service games is very, very important because if he breaks you straight away, it is tough to come back. I think that's it. Not an ideal position.

“But I tried to stay there mentally, trying also to enjoy the moment because it has been an amazing day for me and my team as well. Coming here, opening match on Centre Court, it's a huge privilege.”

As per tradition at the major, Sinner opened Day 1 play on Centre Court as the defending champion and it was an experience that will remain with the 24-year-old for a long time.

“It's tough to describe [the feeling],” Sinner said. “In the same time, I always enjoyed this moment because the emotions I felt last year, it was the first time that I felt in this way, in a very happy way. Coming back here and opening and play on Centre Court, this year was a year where nobody practiced on it before, so it was brand-new. Mentally, you know it.

“It has been an amazing, amazing day for me to feel this way at least once in my life. I think I handled the situation still quite well. It was very nervy, but very happy that I found a way today.”

Sinner, who will next play Nuno Borges, is chasing his fifth major this fortnight and is aiming to bounce back from a shock second-round exit to Juan Manuel Cerundolo at Roland Garros last month.

The top seed suffered a worrying slip against Kecmanovic at 2-2 in the third set, landing awkwardly with his knees bent inwards. However, he confirmed he was physically fine.

“One fall is a tough one because you can get injured,” Sinner said. “But it is the most normal thing. Grass courts are like this. Especially the first couple of matches when the grass is very new, you slip a little bit more.

“I got lucky there because things can go wrong very, very quickly. I try to still trust in my movement. Also the third, fourth and fifth set were very important to keep moving in a very natural way, which I did. I'm very glad nothing happened.”