'Just what the doctor ordered'

Jannik Sinner dropped just one set at Wimbledon last year - and that was in the final against Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner dropped just one set at Wimbledon last year - and that was in the final against Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner's tricky start to his Wimbledon title defence continued as he overcame a stern second-round test against Nuno Borges.

The world number one needed three-and-a-half hours to battle past an inspired Miomir Kecmanovic in five entertaining sets on Monday.

But the Italian looked more assured as he returned to Centre Court two days later and patiently ground out a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 win against a resilient Borges.

Ranked 48th in the world, Portugal's Borges thrilled the crowd and was the better player at times, but Sinner upped his level when it mattered before charging through the third set to seal his ninth straight victory at the All England Club.

"That is just what the doctor ordered. Highly competitive and he lifted his game," three-time Wimbledon singles champion John McEnroe said on BBC TV.

Sinner opted against contesting a grass tournament in the lead-up to Wimbledon, despite suffering a seismic second-round loss at the French Open at the end of May.

When he squeezed past the 50th-ranked Kecmanovic in a match where he lacked sharpness and struggled physically, it felt like the decision could come back to haunt him.