Jannik Sinner came through another stern test to reach the third round at Wimbledon, defeating Nuno Borges 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.

Having been taken to five sets by Miomir Kecmanovic in round one on his first competitive outing since Roland-Garros, the world number one was a straight-sets victor on Wednesday.

However, the contest was far closer than the scoreline suggested as Sinner had to come through two tie-breaks and was also made to work in a topsy-turvy third set.

Borges had to save three break points in the very first game as Sinner came out strongly, though that did not lay down a pattern for the opening set, with both players serving imperiously to send it the distance. 

The breaker was also tense, but Sinner's power came through in the final two points, with a thumping forehand to the right corner clinching the set. 

Borges refused to go away in the second set, though, and he stunned Sinner – who did not lose a game on his own serve until the fourth round en route to the title in 2025 – by breaking in game three. 

However, an error-strewn 10th game from Borges allowed the Italian back in, and after love holds from both players, Sinner convincingly took the second tie-break.

Sinner saw his serve broken again in game two of the second set, with the Italian continuing to mix in plenty of errors, though that came in between two breaks the other way.

Neither player really exuded confidence on their own serve from that moment on, but there were no further breaks and after firing a forehand wide on his first match point, Sinner converted his second by dragging Borges to the net for an error with a lovely drop shot. 

Sinner will be joined in round three by Tommy Paul, who defeated Kwon Soon-woo in straight sets, while Frances Tiafoe downed Terence Atmane in four.

Daniil Medvedev was subjected to a real scare as he looked unconvincing on the grass once again, though he eventually prevailed 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-2 against Daniel Merida Aguilar.

Sinner passes another early test 

Sinner's defence of his Wimbledon crown rumbles on into round three, in which he will face American Jenson Brooksby after he defeated Ignacio Buse earlier on Wednesday.

But he has been severely tested in each of his first two matches.

Sinner won 54% of points in this match (118/220) and saved a pair of break points in addition to the two that Borges converted. He only managed one more break than his opponent, taking three of eight chances overall.

But perhaps facing a couple of stern challenges after following a month out of action might benefit the world number one in the long run.

This was his 39th victory of the season, equalling Alexander Zverev for the most on the ATP Tour, ahead of the German facing Valentin Royer in his second-round match.

Sinner's 92.9% win rate this year (39-3) is the best of any player on the ATP Tour, while his 91.1% win rate while ranked as the world number one (92-9) trails only that of Bjorn Borg (91.9%), since the rankings were first published in 1973.