Jannik Sinner booked his place in the third round of Wimbledon after overcoming a determined challenge from Portugal’s Nuno Borges in straight sets, taking another step in his quest to retain the title at the All England Club.
Although the scoreboard read 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4, the contest was far more demanding than it suggested, with Borges pushing the world number one through two fiercely contested tie-breaks before Sinner’s quality eventually told.
The Italian arrived at Wimbledon under scrutiny after choosing not to play a grass-court warm-up event following his surprise French Open defeat earlier this year. His five-set escape in the opening round raised further questions about his readiness, but Wednesday’s performance showed signs that he is beginning to find his rhythm.
With victory secured in two hours and 32 minutes, Sinner advanced to the next round, where he will meet American Jenson Brooksby as he continues his pursuit of a second consecutive Wimbledon crown.
A Tougher Test Than the Scoreline Suggested
Borges, ranked 48th in the world, refused to be overawed by the occasion and produced some of his best tennis against the tournament favourite. Mixing powerful baseline strokes with delicate drop shots, the Portuguese repeatedly unsettled Sinner during an entertaining opening set.
Despite Borges’ impressive shot-making, Sinner remained composed on serve and did not allow a single break point throughout the opener. The Italian’s experience proved telling in the tie-break as he raised his level at the crucial moments to edge ahead.
The second set followed a similar pattern but offered Borges an even greater opportunity. An early break handed him the advantage, and he stood on the brink of levelling the match while serving for the set.
However, the pressure of the moment shifted the momentum. Borges missed a set point before a series of unforced errors handed Sinner the break back. The Italian seized the opportunity, dominating another tie-break to move within one set of victory.
World Number One Finds His Rhythm
Sinner’s game is still short of the effortless level that carried him to last year’s Wimbledon title, but there were clear improvements from his opening-round performance.
He finished with 29 unforced errors, yet looked physically stronger and far more comfortable during the longer rallies. After briefly falling behind in the opening game of the third set, the four-time Grand Slam champion quickly regained control, breaking back before gradually wearing down Borges’ resistance.
Reflecting on his display, Sinner admitted there is still work to do but believes competitive matches are helping him settle into the tournament. “I need to get back to the rhythm,” Sinner said, adding that, “if you look at the scoreboard it was very close and matches like these help me a lot.”
The 24-year-old acknowledged there were still areas that require improvement but insisted he was pleased with the progress, saying he was “very happy” with the outcome.
Former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe also believes the defending champion is beginning to move in the right direction, describing the performance as exactly what Sinner needed.
According to McEnroe, it was “just what the doctor ordered,” explaining that Sinner had come through “a highly competitive” match and lifted his game, which should leave him feeling far more confident heading into the next round.
Brooksby Awaits as Confidence Grows
Sinner’s latest victory extends his unbeaten run at Wimbledon to nine matches and keeps him firmly on course for another deep run in the tournament.
His next challenge comes against American Jenson Brooksby, currently ranked 81st in the world, with Sinner expected to enter the contest as the overwhelming favourite.
While his performances have not yet reached the dominant standards associated with the world number one, the signs are encouraging as the championship progresses.
Former Wimbledon winner Pat Cash noted that Sinner is not yet firing on all cylinders but believes that is far from a concern at this stage of the tournament. Cash observed that Borges had created enough chances to take either of the opening two sets, yet Sinner still found a way to emerge in control.
He added that the Italian’s game does not need to be perfect now, suggesting that once his forehand reaches its usual level, he will become even more difficult to stop.
With another difficult hurdle cleared and confidence steadily building, Sinner remains firmly in contention to defend his Wimbledon title, knowing that his best tennis may still lie ahead.
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