Tennis - After a scary moment: Zverev in the Wimbledon round of 16
Despite a scare, German tennis prospect Alexander Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, securing his first Grand Slam title, by defeating British player Cameron Norrie 6:4, 6:4, 7:6 (17:15). The German number one overcame the third of seven tests at the most significant grass court tournament in the world.
Zverev with distorted face
After winning the first set convincingly, Zverev suffered a scare at the beginning of the second set. He slipped on the grass while leading 2:2, extended his leg, and lay down with a distorted face.
For a brief moment, memories of his severe ankle injury from the French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal in 2022 resurfaced. This time, Zverev injured his left knee. A physiotherapist came onto the court, but Zverev declined a medical timeout and continued playing shortly thereafter.
In front of nearly 15,000 spectators on Centre Court, Zverev began against the left-hander with great confidence after the first two convincing rounds. Like in the previous matches, the Hamburg native played under a closed roof. The conditions were once again in his favor.
Bandage below the left knee
After the fall, Zverev frequently reached for his box. He secured the next break at 5:4 in the second set. Shortly thereafter, Zverev took a 2:0 lead in sets. At the changeover, he had a bandage applied below his left knee. In the third set, the German number one had to play in the tiebreak and dashed the last remaining British hope in the Men's Singles.
The 27-year-old faces Taylor Fritz from the USA or Chile's Alejandro Tabilo in the next round and aims for his first entry into the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Zverev has never advanced past the round of 16 at the London Grand Slam tournament.
Zverev's injury brought back memories of his scary moment at the French Open, specifically his ankle injury against Nadal in 2022. Despite the scare, he continued playing at Wimbledon, even with a bandage below his left knee.
The lawn court of Wimbledon is not only a venue for great tennis matches but can also present its own challenges, as witnessed by Alexander Zverev's slip during his match against Cameron Norrie.
Despite being a significant tournament for Britain, Zverev's victory over Norrie marked Germany's advancement in the International tennis circuit, with Zverev aiming to make it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time.
Wimbledon is not just the stage for the British champion but also serves as a platform for international players to showcase their skills, as evidenced by German talent Alexander Zverev's performance in the tournament.
