Djokovic survives Wu test to start Wimbledon record chase

Novak Djokovic beat Wu Yibing 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the first round at Wimbledon. The victory keeps the 39-year-old on course in his attempt to move beyond 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

It was not a routine opener. Wu pushed Djokovic across three hours and 12 minutes, taking the second set and testing him in extended baseline exchanges before the seventh seed found a way through the key moments.

Djokovic said afterwards that the match had been demanding and that he was pleased to advance even if he did not feel at his sharpest. The result also extends his perfect first-round record at Wimbledon to 21 wins from 21 appearances.

The Serbian next faces Stefanos Tsitsipas, a familiar opponent from past Grand Slam finals. For editors and fans, the bigger question is whether this difficult start suggests vulnerability or simply another example of Djokovic managing pressure at a major.