London, June 29 -- Reigning Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner survived an opening-round fright - and two awkward falls - en route to an eighth straight victory on Monday at the All England Club.
He had to do it the hard way - from two-sets-to-one down against Serbian challenger Miormir Kecmanovic -a 26-year-old ranked 50th in the world.
The 24-year-old Italian battled back on the Centre Court, however, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 over three hours and 30 minutes, according to olympics.com.
He will face Portugal's Nuno Borges in round two on Wednesday. Sinner was back in action just over a month following his shock exit at the French Open on May 28, when a steamy hot Parisian day all but halted the world No. 1 as he fell to Juan Manu...