World number one Jannik Sinner made a commanding start to his Wimbledon campaign, easing past compatriot Luca Nardi in straight sets on a scorching Tuesday afternoon at the All England Club. Unfazed by the soaring temperatures, the Italian top seed delivered a clinical 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 win in just under two hours on Court One, setting the tone for what he hopes will be a breakthrough title run.
Returning to the venue where he reached the semifinals in 2023, Sinner expressed his joy at being back on grass, calling Wimbledon a “special place.” Despite the awkwardness of facing a fellow Italian, Sinner showed no hesitation, asserting his dominance from the start. The win marked his first Grand Slam appearance since a heartbreaking five-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final, where he squandered a two-set lead.
Ahead of Wimbledon, Sinner made headlines by parting ways with long-time team members Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, his trainer and physiotherapist. While some questioned the timing of the decision, the 23-year-old insisted it was a necessary step for future growth. With Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill still on his coaching staff, Sinner showed no signs of disruption in form.
The world No. 1, who has won three of the last six Grand Slam titles, acknowledged his team’s efforts to sharpen his serve following a disappointing performance at Halle. “We worked a lot after Halle, especially on the serve, and I felt that improvement today,” Sinner said. He now turns his focus to the next round with renewed confidence and high expectations.
While Sinner impressed, other top seeds did not fare as well. Fellow Italian and seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti crashed out in the first round, falling in four sets to Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili. Returning from a leg injury that forced him out of the French Open semifinals, Musetti looked far from his best and admitted he struggled both physically and mentally on Court Two.
Basilashvili, ranked 126th in the world, capitalised on Musetti’s inconsistency, delivering his first Grand Slam win since 2022 and his first victory over a top-10 player at a major. The defeat marked a third consecutive first-round exit for Musetti at a Slam.
Elsewhere, Wimbledon dark horse Alexander Bublik also suffered a surprise early exit. The 28th seed from Kazakhstan, fresh off a title win in Halle, was beaten in five sets by Spain’s Jaume Munar in an intense battle on Court 14. Bublik showed flashes of his signature flair, but Munar's resilience and tactical discipline saw him rally from two sets to one down to clinch the win.
With ten men’s seeds already eliminated before the first round has concluded, Wimbledon 2025 is shaping up to be unpredictable—and possibly historic. As favourites falter, all eyes turn to Sinner, whose form and focus could see him seize his maiden title at SW19.
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