China's Wang Xinyu produced a strong comeback to defeat Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 and book her place in the Wimbledon second round for a fourth straight year.

After a split of the first two sets, Wang lifted her level in the decider by stepping inside the court more often and taking control of shorter exchanges. A key break in a long fifth game shifted momentum fully in her favor before she closed out the match by winning the final three games.

Wang said the contest was decided by marginal differences in the opening shots of each rally, with both players closely matched from the baseline. She will next face 11th seed Belinda Bencic in the second round.

There was also success for 37-year-old Zhang Shuai, who edged past former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6) in a tight two-set battle. Zhang said she drew confidence from watching Jannik Sinner's match unfold on Centre Court at the same time, using his fightback as motivation during key moments.

However, it was a difficult day for China's Zheng Qinwen, who fell 6-4, 6-4 to Katerina Siniakova in the opening round. It marked a third Wimbledon first-round defeat against the Czech player for Zheng, who again struggled to find answers in the key phases of both sets.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka began her campaign with a routine 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbia's Teodora Kostovic, while Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Naomi Osaka also progressed to the next round.

On Centre Court, Novak Djokovic was pushed hard by China's Wu Yibing before emerging with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory in a four-set battle lasting more than three hours.

Wu impressed with fearless hitting and heavy forehands that repeatedly tested Djokovic, but the 24-time Grand Slam champion held firm in the decisive moments, particularly in the fourth set where he saved multiple break points to regain control.

Djokovic said the match required constant adjustment to conditions under the closed roof and praised Wu for sustaining a high level throughout the contest. He will next face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.

World No. 1 Sinner also survived a stern test, coming from a set down to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3 in a match lasting more than three hours. The Italian raised his level in the final two sets, producing a strong finish to secure victory and set up his next clash with Portugal's Nuno Borges.