Novak Djokovic began his latest Wimbledon record chase with a fight, surviving a strong first-round test from China’s Wu Yibing to win 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court.
The Serbian is chasing two pieces of history at the All England Club: an eighth Wimbledon title to match Roger Federer’s men’s record, and a 25th Grand Slam crown that would move him clear at the top of the all-time major list.
But Wu made sure the opening act was not a procession.
Djokovic took the first set 6-4 and looked ready to impose himself early. He served with control, moved through his service games with purpose and carried the authority expected from a player who has built so much of his legacy on this court.
Then Wu hit back.
The Chinese player raised his aggression in the second set, extended the rallies and forced Djokovic to defend under pressure. He took the set 7-5, turning what looked like a routine opener into a genuine Centre Court examination.
For Djokovic, that was the danger point.
At 39, every extended Grand Slam contest now carries a different weight. The history is still there. The experience is still there. But opponents are no longer just facing the aura; they are trying to drag him into physical battles and test how much punishment his game can still absorb.
Wu did exactly that.
Djokovic responded with control rather than panic. He tightened his service games in the third set, waited for his moment and found the break that shifted the match back in his direction.
The third set went 6-4 to the Serbian, but Wu refused to disappear.
He continued to attack in the fourth, pushing Djokovic into more uncomfortable exchanges and keeping the match alive deep into the set. The decisive moment came late, when Djokovic broke for a 5-4 lead after Wu missed an overhead.
This time, Djokovic did not let the opening slip.
He served out the match to seal his place in the second round and keep his Wimbledon campaign alive.
Djokovic Admits Wu Made Him Work
Djokovic’s post-match reaction underlined how difficult the contest became.
According to The Guardian’s live report, Djokovic said the match felt different after the Centre Court roof closed, with conditions becoming more slippery underfoot. He also credited Wu for putting him under sustained pressure and surprising him with the level of his shot-making.
That admission matters because Djokovic was not simply managing a scoreboard. He was managing conditions, an unfamiliar opponent and the physical pressure that comes with a long grass-court contest.
The Serbian survived because he found answers at the right moments.
That has been one of the defining features of his career. It was also the difference here.
Record Chase Still Alive
This was not a statement of dominance from Djokovic.
It was a statement of survival.
That may matter even more at this stage of his career. Djokovic has won enough smooth Grand Slam matches to fill a career, but Wimbledon 2026 is asking a different question: can he still absorb pressure, solve problems and protect his record chase when the match becomes uncomfortable?
Against Wu, the answer was yes.
The win sets up a second-round meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas, according to The Guardian’s live Wimbledon report.
It also keeps alive one of the biggest storylines of the tournament. Djokovic is not just playing for another Wimbledon run. He is playing for separation in tennis history.
Wu Leaves With Respect
Wu exited in the first round, but he did not leave quietly.
The Chinese player gave Djokovic a real workout, took a set from one of the sport’s greatest grass-court players and showed why his return to Grand Slam action carries meaning after injury-hit seasons.
He did not have enough to finish the upset.
But he had enough to expose the challenge ahead for Djokovic.
Wimbledon will not hand him history. It will make him fight for it.
