Tennis - After rain breaks: Siegemund reaches second round of Wimbledon
In rainy London, the German tennis player Laura Siegemund boosted Germany's start at Wimbledon with her first-round win. The 36-year-old impressed against Kateryna Baindl from Ukraine with a 6:4, 6:1 victory and didn't let rain breaks hinder her.
After Tamara Korpatsch and Eva Lys exited, Siegemund became the first German participant in the women's draw at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. However, she faces a much tougher challenge in the second round against Wimbledon champion of 2022, Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan.
Siegemund advances on the grass
Siegemund, who started with a long-sleeved shirt due to the cold, confidently handled her opening match. The referee interrupted the game in the first set due to rain. The court was wet, and Siegemund had just slipped at the net.
Siegemund wiped herself down with a towel and consulted her coach and partner Antonio Zucca. Later, she had a bit of luck when her net roller was out of reach during a serve.
Covering the outer courts
Then it started to rain heavily. Helpers took down the nets and laid out covers over the courts: The first rain interruption typical of Wimbledon occurred during this year's tournament. Siegemund had to wait for more than an hour - and had to hurry. With a smile, she bid farewell after using the second match point.
Jan-Lennard Struff and Daniel Altmaier made it to the second round of the third Grand Slam tournament of the season for the German men on Monday. On Tuesday, Alexander Zverev, a significant German title contender, as well as former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, Tatjana Maria, and Jule Niemeier, entered the tournament action.
Laura Siegemund, hailing from Germany, continued her impressive run in the rain-soaked Wimbledon, triumphing over Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl with a score of 6:4, 6:1. This victory marked Siegemund as the first German player in the women's draw of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
Despite the rain breaks disrupting the game, Siegemund remained unfazed and maintained her composure, even sliding at the net earlier in the match. Her victory against Baindl marked her boost to Germany's start at this prestigious tennis tournament in London.
Siegemund will now face a tougher challenge in the second round, going up against Wimbledon champion of 2022, Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan. As she prepares for her next match, Siegemund's resilience and determination have already placed her as a contender to watch out for in this year's Grand Slam tournament.
Meanwhile, Tamara Korpatsch and Eva Lys had exited the tournament earlier. Korpatsch, representing Germany, and Lys from Great Britain both struggled to adapt to the challenging conditions of Wimbledon.
Similarly, rain had earlier interrupted play on the lawn tennis courts, causing a delay of over an hour. The rain break even affected top contenders, such as Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff and Daniel Altmaier, both of whom had made it to the second round of the men's tournament.
Under the covers of the wet courts, other German players, including Alexander Zverev, a significant title contender, as well as former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, Tatjana Maria, and Jule Niemeier, were eagerly waiting for their chance to make their mark at the thriving tennis event in London.
Despite the relentless rain, the spirit of the competition remained undeterred, as players from various countries, such as Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Great Britain, showcased their skills on the wet grass courts of Wimbledon.
