Wimbledon day one: Ostapenko leads Dart as Sinner struggles
Jelena Ostapenko leads Britain's Harriet Dart 6-3 on Court One as Wimbledon 2026 day one unfolds, while defending champion Jannik Sinner faces a stern test against Miomir Kecmanovic on Centre Court and Cameron Norrie took the opening set 7-6 (9-7) against Michael Zheng. Ostapenko's power has dominated early, though Dart has fought back with breaks in the second set.
The 2026 Championships opened at the All England Club on Monday, 29 June, with sunny skies and a packed queue. British fans had plenty to follow beyond the headline acts, from Ostapenko's clash with Dart to Norrie's bid to match his 2022 semi-final run.
Key Takeaways
- Jelena Ostapenko leads Harriet Dart 6-3 on Court One, with Dart breaking back in the second set after ankle treatment.
- Jannik Sinner is under pressure on Centre Court as Miomir Kecmanovic claims set points and breaks the defending champion.
- Cameron Norrie won a tight first-set tiebreak 7-6 (9-7) against qualifier Michael Zheng on Court Two.
- Emma Raducanu withdrew on the eve of the tournament with a stress fracture, leaving Norrie as the only British seed in the singles draws.
- Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic are scheduled later on Centre Court as day one continues.
Why is Jelena Ostapenko leading Harriet Dart on Court One?
Ostapenko opened strongly against Britain's Harriet Dart on No 1 Court, taking the first set 6-3. The Latvian, a former French Open champion, has looked the more aggressive player, though BBC commentators noted her frustration when points slip away — including double faults that drew loud cheers from the home crowd.
Dart, the British number five, received ankle treatment during the match but returned to the court. She saved break points and broke Ostapenko in the second set, capitalising when the Latvian sent a double fault wide. Analysts on the BBC feed suggested keeping the ball low and short is effective against Ostapenko's flat, powerful groundstrokes.
Court One's schedule shifted after Emma Raducanu's late withdrawal. The 30th seed pulled out on Sunday evening with a stress fracture in her lower right leg, hours after telling reporters she planned to play.
How is Jannik Sinner's title defence going on Centre Court?
It has not been the smoothest start for the world number one. Sinner opened his defence against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, but the Serbian has pushed him hard. Kecmanovic had set points, broke Sinner after the Italian led 40-0 in a game, and matched him through the early exchanges.
Sinner made significantly more unforced errors than his opponent in the opening games — unusual for a player renowned for devastating precision. He has not played competitively since his shock second-round French Open exit, where he wilted in intense heat.
With Carlos Alcaraz absent through a wrist injury, Sinner is the clear favourite to retain his title. He has won all four previous tour meetings against Kecmanovic without dropping a set, including a straight-sets win in the third round here two years ago.
What happened to Britain's Cameron Norrie on day one?
Norrie, the 26th seed and highest-ranked British man in the draw, took the first set 7-6 (9-7) against American qualifier Michael Zheng on Court Two. The 2022 semi-finalist traded net winners with his opponent and celebrated when a big first serve sealed a hold.
Norrie is now the only British seed remaining in the Wimbledon singles draws following Raducanu's withdrawal. For more live sports coverage, see our Celebrity Breaking News section.
Who else is making headlines on Wimbledon day one?
Centre Court's evening card still features Aryna Sabalenka against Teodora Kostovic and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic against Yibing Wu. Djokovic is chasing a standalone record 25th major title.
Elsewhere, Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula advanced in straight sets, French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska exited in three sets, and 11th seed Casper Ruud trailed Hubert Hurkacz by a set and a break. Follow live updates via the BBC Sport live blog.