Novak Djokovic opened his 21st Wimbledon campaign with a hard-fought four-set win over China’s Wu Yibing on Monday night, prevailing 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court to reach the second round.
Wu’s flat, aggressive hitting repeatedly put the Serbian under pressure and roused a lively crowd, but Djokovic steadied in the key moments. The 24-time major winner improved to 21-0 in first-round matches at Wimbledon, closing out the contest after three hours and 11 minutes.
Key Moments in Djokovic’s Match
The momentum swung through changing conditions as the roof status shifted during the match, altering the feel of the grass and favoring different styles at times. Djokovic, competing on grass for the first time this season and in just his fifth tour-level event of the year, adjusted to regain control.
The turning point came late in the fourth set. Djokovic saved six break points in the set, including three from 0-40 at 2-3, then broke in the ninth game after a scrambling defensive lob drew an overhead error from Wu. He served out the match to seal progress.
Djokovic is chasing an eighth Wimbledon title this fortnight, which would match the men’s record held by Roger Federer. He has not won the trophy since 2022, having fallen in the finals in 2023 and 2024 to Carlos Alcaraz and in the 2025 semifinals to Jannik Sinner.
Sir David Beckham and Bad Bunny were among those watching from the stands. Next up for Djokovic is Stefanos Tsitsipas, against whom he holds a 12-2 head-to-head lead. The pair have not met since the 2024 Paris Olympics. As Djokovic continues his pursuit of glory, fans eagerly anticipate how he will perform in the upcoming rounds of this prestigious tournament.