Jannik Sinner is aiming to avoid becoming the fifth player is history to lose in the first round of Wimbledon when defending their title.
The Italian was absolutely magnificent when getting the better of great rival Carlos Alcaraz in 2025 but his title defence has been put to the test extremely early on by 26-year-old Serbian Miomir Kecmanović.
We take a look at the four other defending Wimbledon champions to crash out in the first round...
Defending Wimbledon champions to lose in first round
- Marketa Vondrousova lost to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (2024)
- Lleyton Hewitt lost to Ivo Karlovic of Croatia (2003)
- Steffi Graf lost to Lori McNeil (1994)
- Manuel Santana lost to Charlie Pasarell (1967)
Although Sinner would became just the fifth defending champion to see his title defence give way in the opening round, he would be the second this decade.
Marketa Vondrousova was the first unseeded player in the Open Era to win Wimbledon when she beat Ons Jabeur in the 2023 final. However, her title defence fell flat on its face against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro the following year.
Vondrousova's loss was the first of its kind for more than 20 years, ever since Lleyton Hewitt lost out to Ivo Karlovic in the opening round of the 2003 championships. His opponent Ivo Karlovic sat outside the top 200 at the time but it didn't stop the big server from winning 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court.
Both Manuel Santana and Steffi Graf are the only other first round casualties when defending their Wimbledon crown.
Graf's 22 Grand Slam titles makes her an absolute legend of the sport, however, her opening round loss to Lori McNeil in 1994 is most certainly one for her to forget.
