Novak Djokovic overcame a spirited challenge from Chinese star Wu Yibing in the first round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships on the tournament’s opening Monday. The Serb made a strong start, taking the opening set 6-4 after fending off two break-back opportunities for Wu late in the set.
Wu mounted an impressive response to claim the second set 7-5, but Djokovic regained control to secure a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory. The evening match’s final two sets were played under the closed roof on Center Court.
John McEnroe Speaks on Novak Djokovic-Wu Yibing Warm-up at Wimbledon
After Wu won the second set, chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani suspended play to close the roof. As darkness approaches, play on the outside courts is suspended, while matches on the tournament’s two main show courts continue under closed roofs. The roofs are typically closed between sets, even if there is still some natural light to continue in outdoor conditions.
Once the roofs are closed, matches continue under floodlights until the tournament’s 11 p.m. local-time curfew. Closing the roof usually takes about 10 minutes, after which players are allowed a short warmup to adjust to the new indoor conditions.
McEnroe, a three-time Wimbledon champion who was in the commentary box for the match, criticized the delay, arguing that a fresh warm-up was unnecessary after only a 10-minute pause.
“Don’t tell me there’s a warm-up now. I don’t get this — why there is a warm-up. I think it was 10 minutes for God’s sake. I don’t get it,” he was heard saying.
While his fellow commentator, Andrew Cotter, suggested that the change in playing conditions and air pressure might justify the additional warm-up, McEnroe remained unconvinced.
“I’m not going to buy that one. Got to do better than that,” he said. “That’s like saying it was hot in Paris, and then when it cooled off during the match, you say, ‘Hold on, let’s take a break. Let’s hit a few balls to see if it’s a little heavier now.’”
McEnroe then quipped in response to Cotter, who clarified that he was merely explaining the rules rather than making them. “I don’t make the rules; I just try to get them changed.”
“What am I missing here? Why aren’t they playing?” the American legend said, continuing to voice his frustration until the match resumed.
John McEnroe was full of praise for Novak Djokovic after he sealed the four-set victory. “God bless him,” he said, acknowledging the Serb’s resilience and dedication to the sport.
Djokovic now faces a familiar opponent in Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round of Wimbledon on Wednesday, July 1. The seven-time champion leads their head-to-head record 12-2 and will fancy his chances of reaching the third round.
