Mika Stojsavljevic in focus as Brits start Wimbledon day one
Mika Stojsavljevic is at the centre of British Wimbledon day-one action on Monday, 29 June 2026, as home players begin on outside courts hours before defending champion Jannik Sinner opens Centre Court to start his title defence against Miomir Kecmanovic at 13:30 BST. Ten Britons are in singles action after Emma Raducanu withdrew with a stress fracture.
Key Takeaways
- Mika Stojsavljevic is among the British wildcards in first-round action on day one at SW19.
- Outside courts started at 11:00 BST, ahead of Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic on Centre Court.
- Emma Raducanu pulled out on Sunday evening, leaving ten British singles players on the Monday schedule.
- Cameron Norrie, Hannah Klugman and Harriet Dart are among the other home names in early matches.
- Fans are braving 30C heat to queue for tickets, including a Kent pub owner on his 34th straight year.
Who Is Mika Stojsavljevic on Wimbledon Day One?
Mika Stojsavljevic is one of the British wildcard recipients in the women's singles draw at Wimbledon 2026. She is scheduled in the opening-day lineup as the All England Club turns its attention to home talent before the main show-court headliners take over.
With Raducanu's withdrawal reshaping the British picture, Stojsavljevic carries added interest among the younger generation hoping to make a mark on the grass. Her first-round appearance is part of a broader day-one story for British tennis.
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Which British Players Are on Court Before Sinner?
Monday's order of play puts British involvement across the grounds from late morning. Cameron Norrie, seeded 26th, was due on Court Two against qualifier Michael Zheng, while teenager Hannah Klugman faces 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova on Court Three.
Harriet Dart, Felix Gill, Alicia Dudeney, Mingge Xu, Oliver Tarvet, Max Basing and Francesca Jones are also in Monday singles action. Stojsavljevic's tie against Belinda Bencic is scheduled on Court 18 in the early session.
That clustering of home matches is why day one has been framed as a British morning before global stars arrive on Centre Court. Live updates are on the BBC Sport live page and The Guardian's day-one blog.
Why Did Emma Raducanu Miss Opening Day?
Raducanu withdrew on the eve of the tournament after a scan showed a stress fracture in her lower right leg. She had been due to face Antonia Ruzic on Court One, but doctors advised her to stop pushing through the injury.
Her late exit reduced British singles representation on day one and removed one of the highest-profile home storylines from the schedule.
When Does Jannik Sinner Begin His Title Defence?
Tradition dictates the defending men's champion opens Centre Court. Sinner faces Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic at 13:30 BST, before women's world No 1 Sabalenka plays Teodora Kostovic and seven-time champion Djokovic meets Wu Yibing.
Those three matches anchor the afternoon on the sport's most famous court, capping a day that began with British players spread across the outside courts.
How Is the Heat Affecting Fans at Wimbledon?
Opening week arrives with soaring temperatures in the South East. The Met Office has forecast highs around 30C during the championships fortnight.
Harry Taylor, who owns the Red Lion Inn in Bridge, Kent, is camping in the Wimbledon queue for a 34th consecutive year. He arrived on Saturday morning and plans to stay overnight throughout the tournament, bringing cooling towels, portable fans, ice and a heat-reflective tent.
Taylor told the BBC he had come fully prepared and that friends from China, Australia and Belgium join him in the queue each year. He has previously said he would keep returning unless he was dead or in hospital.