Il Nuovo Postiglione - Sinner sinks Borges to step up Wimbledon title defence

Once again, Sinner wasn't at his best but the world number one did just enough to advance 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 on Centre Court.

The 24-year-old Italian had narrowly avoided an embarrassing first-round exit when he fought back from two sets to one down to beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.

Sinner was left bloodied against Kecmanovic by an awkward fall that injured his right foot.

The four-time Grand Slam champion did not appear impeded by that blow on his return to action in the second round, but he struggled to impose himself against the spirited world number 48.

"The second set was very tough. First couple of sets we were serving very well. These matches, where you don't have a lot of control, I'm happy to win," Sinner said.

"I didn't do a lot of practice because the first match was very long.

"There's a couple of things I need to improve. I felt some moments where I still need to get back to this rhythm."

Sinner ended Carlos Alcaraz's two-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a brilliant final victory over the Spaniard last year.

He is still some way from those lofty heights heading into his third-round tie against American world number 81 Jenson Brooksby.

Having opted not to play a Wimbledon warm-up event for the first time in his career, Sinner has looked a little underprepared at the start of his title defence.

Sinner hasn't reached a Grand Slam final this year and blew a two-set lead in a shock French Open second-round defeat against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in June.

O.R.Lucchese--INP