Novak Djokovic fights off an inspired Yibing Wu in four sets on Centre Court to reach the second round at Wimbledon 2026

Novak Djokovic got his latest attempt for a stand-alone 25th Major singles title in the sport underway with a four-set victory over an inspired Yibing Wu.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion was made to dig deep at times to post a 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 success in three hours and 12 minutes.

Djokovic broke in the opening game of the contest, and it proved to be the decisive moment in an entertaining opening stanza that lasted 38 minutes.

Wu produced some eye-catching winners as he made a real battle of it in the second set and the 26-year-old stunned the Centre Court crowd by breaking at the death to level the match at one apiece.

The world number 102 had only ever won one tour-level match on grass coming into the showdown and he belied that stat with some incredible tennis that had the spectators urging him on with extended chants of ‘Wuuuuuuu.’

Djokovic eventually made the breakthrough in the ninth game before fending off break back point to re-establish his lead on his fourth set point.

Wu refused to go away and pushed hard in the fourth set, failing to convert four break points which would have secured a 4-2 lead.

It proved to be costly as Djokovic once again broke in the ninth game thanks to the Chinese underdog’s woeful bounce smash before serving out to love.

Novak Djokovic overcomes a spirited display from the Chinese world number 102 as he serves out to love to claim a four-set victory.

Wu gave it everything and had his chances but in the end the Serb found a way as he is so often does.

The seventh seed will now meet Stefanos Tsitsipas in R2.

Djokovic ups the ante with a wonderful slice forehand that lures a low backhand error and a dart to the net that allows him to cut off a pass with an angled volley.

Wu hits back to make Pulp but Nole literally steals the point off the Chinese’s racquet and then earns the break when the world number 102 hammers a bounce smash long.

Djokovic eases into a 40-15 advantage but is pegged back as Wu conjures up a lovely lob and a sizzling crosscourt backhand to make deuce.

The Serb so often resets at this juncture and does so here with serve again carrying him through.

Djokovic is stretching out his leg and bashing his hip in frustration as his body fails to follow through with the movement his mind demands.

Wu ignores the show and races through a game to 15 to quickly forget about the four missed chances in the previous game.

It’s a very loose game from Djokovic – but he gets away with it.

The seven-time champion leaks a poor forehand way long and ends up coughing up triple break point with a shocking dropper that sails into the net.

Wu almost pulls off a sensational pass on the dive on the first and is left questioning a call on the line on the second.

The Chinese can’t convert with a backhand long and the third and when he blows a fourth, the writing is on the wall as Djokovic nails a clutch serve to follow on from a classy backhand volley.

‘Wuuuuu’ is the cry from the crowd as he celebrates a forehand winner down the line on the run.

The belief is very much there from the world number 102 and he continues to pump himself up with gestures to his team as he walks to his chair with a love hold under his belt.

Wu dismissively slaps the ball away as Novak flashes a forehand long under pressure to cough up two break points.

The Serb leans on his serve to stave off one and is relieved to see the Chinese’s return off his risky second serve hit the net on the second.

Wu skews a backhand into the net and allows the frustration to creep into his demeanour for the first time, but he lures an error long to prolong the game.

Djokovic refuses to budge, however, and eventually grits out a supreme recovery to level at two apiece.

Wu continues to defy Djokovic, showing great patience at 30-30 to lure a slice long in a chess-like rally in a match where he has so often been so pro-risk.

The Chinese hopeful then zaps an ace down the T to wriggle clear once more and keep his nose in front in the fledgling part of Set 4.

Djokovic powers an 11th ace of the evening down the T and then outlasts Wu in a blockbusting rally, again gesturing in disbelief at how well the world number 102 is playing.

Wu doesn’t allow it to get in his head and hits back from 40-15 down to make deuce with a sublime drop shot.

Djokovic calms himself and resets, concentrating on hitting those spots on the first serve and navigating his way out of dodge.

Wu darts forward to slap away a drive volley and open the fourth set with a hold to 15.

Djokovic works his way to two set points but can’t make either count as Wu continues to attack and eventually does enough with an umpteenth overhead to make deuce.

The Chinese senses an opening and his aggressive, risky ball-striking bursts through the Nole defence again to snare break back point.

The seventh seed needs to find that first serve and does, to fend it off before pretending to head another stray return off the island.

Wu fights off a third set point with a belting forehand up the line but can’t find the island on the fourth as Djokovic eventually gets the job done.

‘Come on,’ yells Wu as he does enough with a crosscourt backhand to force an error and make Pulp.

The Chinese goes back-in-behind off a plus-one forehand, but Novak reads it and then chases down an angled volley to slip away the crosscourt winner.

Wu fends off the break point with a crushing forehand but another misfire off the island coughs up a second chance.

This time Djokovic makes it count as his opponent spews a forehand long and wide, leaving the 39-year-old pointing to his ear and asking for the crowd to raise the noise for him.

Djokovic romps through a hold to 15 and this set remains finely poised. 

The 26-year-old races through a clean hold and still has the scoreboard advantage heading into the business end of the third set.

Everyone is waiting for the Chinese underdog to dip or fade, but he is just not going away.

Djokovic continues to grin as the aggressive, attacking nature of Wu and how often he’s conjuring up some big, big winners.

It’s a better way to release frustration than showing his anger and he stays calm throughout a hold to 30 that eases him level once again.

‘Wuuuuuuuu’ is in fashion now and follows every point he wins as a bullet crosscourt forehand and a pair of aces help him keep Djokovic at bay with a solid hold to 30.