Wu Yibing will step onto Centre Court at Wimbledon on Monday to face Novak Djokovic in their first career meeting, a marquee assignment the Chinese player embraces at his favorite tournament.
The 26-year-old has appeared on a Grand Slam’s main stage only once before, losing to Daniil Medvedev on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2022 US Open. This time, he meets a 39-year-old opponent who has turned Centre Court into a fortress for much of the past decade. Since 2016, Djokovic has lost a completed match there only three times, with those defeats coming against Carlos Alcaraz twice and current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Wu’s Journey to Wimbledon
Wu regards Djokovic as the greatest men’s player and a role model, and sees this as a rare chance to test himself against a legend in the later stages of his career. Although they have never played a tour-level match, Wu trained with Djokovic during an offseason in Monte-Carlo eight years ago, when Wu was 18. He recalls intense sessions that included cross-court drills and point play, and describes Djokovic as welcoming—memories he believes helped shape his development.
Wu’s route back to this stage has required persistence. The former US Open boys’ champion became the first Chinese man to win an ATP Tour title in Dallas in 2023 and climbed to a career-high No. 54, but the stretch since his only previous Wimbledon appearance also brought significant setbacks, including surgery on his left foot and lower back problems. Now healthy and back inside the Top 100, he has competed regularly in 2026, winning an ATP Challenger title in the United States, reaching the quarter-finals in Acapulco, and posting victories at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros. His only previous Wimbledon main-draw match ended in a loss to Frances Tiafoe.
With Centre Court awaiting, Wu plans to bring full energy to a matchup many would prefer to avoid—and one he has been eager to embrace. This historic encounter marks not just a significant moment for Wu but also highlights the growing presence of Chinese players in the global tennis arena.