Wimbledon 2025: Bouchard tips Sinner to defend title despite five-set scare
Synopsis
Eugenie Bouchard still has Jannik Sinner as her Wimbledon pick — but she's watching closely. The world No. 1 survived a five-set scare against Kecmanovic, battled a bloodied foot, and broke a five-match losing streak in five-setters, all before his title defence had properly begun. Bouchard's verdict: the rough opener might actually sharpen him.
Key Takeaways
Eugenie Bouchard named Jannik Sinner her top pick to win Wimbledon 2025 , citing his grass-court game.
Sinner defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 in the first round, recovering from a two-sets-to-one deficit.
The win ended Sinner's run of five consecutive losses in five-set matches.
Sinner played through a bloodied foot during the contest.
He faces Portugal's Nuno Borges in the second round on Centre Court on Wednesday .
Sinner is ranked world No.
1 (ATP) and holds 29 Tour titles , including four Grand Slams .
Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard has backed defending champion Jannik Sinner to retain his title at Wimbledon 2025, arguing that the world No. 1's grass-court game makes him a natural frontrunner — even after he was pushed to five sets in his first-round opener. Bouchard shared her assessment on 1 July ahead of Sinner's second-round appearance at the All England Club.
Sinner's Rocky Start
Sinner survived a nervy first-round contest against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, eventually prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 after trailing by two sets to one. The victory was notable for two reasons: it snapped his run of five consecutive losses in five-set matches, and he battled through the match despite a bloodied foot. His reward is a second-round clash against Portugal's Nuno Borges on Centre Court.
What Bouchard Said
'My first pick would be Sinner, of course, because he has won here before. With his game style on grass, he really seems like a top contender,' Bouchard said. 'But he had a crazy five-set match in the first round of this edition, kind of unexpected. So I'm not sure where his level is at.'
The Canadian former finalist was careful to add nuance, suggesting the gruelling opener could yet prove beneficial. 'Sometimes that is a good sign, and you work through all the issues. I will still pick him, even though it was a little questionable in his first round,' she added.
Sinner's Form Heading into Wimbledon
Sinner's build-up to the grass-court major was uneven. He claimed the Italian Open title in Rome but suffered a surprise second-round exit at the French Open — a result that raised questions about his clay-to-grass transition. Despite those concerns, the Italian arrived at Wimbledon as the reigning champion and the consensus favourite among pundits.
Notably, Sinner is currently ranked world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and ended 2024 as the year-end top-ranked player. His career record stands at 29 ATP Tour singles titles, encompassing four Grand Slams, ten Masters titles, and two ATP Finals crowns.
What to Watch Next
The Italian returns to Centre Court on Wednesday for his second-round encounter against Borges, where a more convincing performance will be expected from the defending champion. How Sinner manages his fitness — particularly the foot injury — will be closely monitored as the tournament progresses into the second week.
Point of View
Not unconditional — and that distinction matters. Sinner's five-set opener against a player ranked outside the top 40 exposed real uncertainty about where his form sits after a disjointed clay season. The foot injury adds a fitness variable that could compound over a fortnight. Yet the structural argument holds: no active player has a more complete grass-court profile at the top of the draw. The real question Wimbledon 2025 will answer is whether Sinner can defend a major title — something very few players in the Open Era have done back-to-back at the All England Club.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Eugenie Bouchard say about Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon 2025?
Bouchard named Sinner her top pick to win Wimbledon 2025, saying his grass-court game makes him 'a top contender.' She acknowledged uncertainty about his form after a tough five-set opener but said she would still back him to go all the way.
How did Sinner perform in his Wimbledon 2025 first-round match?
Sinner beat Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3, recovering from two sets to one down. He also played through a bloodied foot and ended a five-match losing streak in five-set contests.
Who does Jannik Sinner play in the second round at Wimbledon 2025?
Sinner faces Portugal's Nuno Borges in the second round on Centre Court on Wednesday. It is the next step in his defence of the Wimbledon title he won in 2024.
What is Jannik Sinner's current ranking and career record?
Sinner is ranked world No. 1 by the ATP and was the year-end top-ranked player in 2024. He has won 29 ATP Tour singles titles, including four Grand Slams, ten Masters titles, and two ATP Finals crowns.
Why did Sinner struggle at the French Open before Wimbledon 2025?
Sinner suffered a surprise second-round exit at the French Open, raising questions about his clay-court form heading into the grass-court season. He did, however, win the Italian Open in Rome prior to Roland Garros.
