Tennis - Face contorted in pain: Zverev in the Wimbledon round of 16
After his shock moment during the entry into the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, Alexander Zverev walked lightly up the stairs with a bandage around his left knee. For the last remaining German tennis hopeful, it's about the Viertelfinal debut and the pursuit of the long-desired first Grand Slam title at the most significant grass tournament in the world. But after his fall in the third round against British player Cameron Norrie, his knee is causing concern.
"I have pain right now," said the French Open finalist after winning 6:4, 6:4, 7:6 (17:15) against Norrie and announced that he would undergo an MRT examination. "I don't think it's that serious, otherwise I wouldn't have kept playing the way I did."
A brief reminder of Paris
After winning the first set sovereignly, Zverev had to endure a scare at the beginning of the second set in front of nearly 15,000 spectators on Centre Court. He slipped and overextended his leg, lying there with a distorted face.
For a brief moment, memories of his severe foot injury from the French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal resurfaced. This time, Zverev protected his left knee. A physiotherapist came onto the court, but Zverev even refused a medical timeout and continued to play shortly thereafter.
"Of course I was limited," said Zverev: "I might not have chased after every ball, but I was still able to move well enough to win three sets against a difficult opponent." So let's see what it is. I hope I can be back on the court in two days.
It happened when I went for a stopball, explained Zverev the scene. "I wanted to change direction"
White bandage under the knee
A few times after the fall, the fourth-ranked player searched for contact with his box. However, he secured the next break anyway and shouted out his joy. At the changeover, the German number one called the physiotherapist again, but only talked to him. Only after winning the second set did he allow a white bandage to be placed under his left knee.
Against the last remaining British hope in the men's singles, Zverev was allowed to play on Centre Court for the first time at this year's Wimbledon. He went onto the court knowing that he had won all five previous encounters against Norrie. In Australia at the start of the season, he was close to defeat against the left-hander and only saved himself in the fifth set tiebreak.
The powerful serve impresses
Just like in the two Wimbledon matches before, the roof was closed due to the persistent rain. Conditions that Zverev found unfavorable. A key element in Zverev's game was once again his powerful serve, allowing no break chances. The third set, however, remained even until the end.
Norrie surprised Zverev with a bold serve underarm at the game win to 6:5. Tension built up as Zverev faced the possibility of conceding the first set in the tournament.
With the sixth match ball, however, the native Hamburg player secured the next win. The German top player avoided the fate of the previous year, when he lost in the third round against the Italian Matteo Berrettini, and advanced to the Round of 16 for the third time in London in 2017 and 2021. In the battle for a place in the quarterfinals, Zverev faces the American Taylor Fritz or Chilean Alejandro Tabilo on Monday.
Nervous about Pep Guardiola
"I feel like a cow on ice on grass sometimes," Zverev said in an interview on the court: "It's an incredible honor to play on Centre Court and in front of the Royal Box," Zverev remarked and directed a few words at football coach Pep Guardiola.
"When I saw him, I got nervous for a few games," the 27-year-old said about the coach of the English top club Manchester City. With a smirk, he directed a few words directly at Guardiola: "Bayern Munich needs a coach. If you're full of football nose, you can train me anytime."
Zverev as the only German left in the Singles
While Zverev now hopes to be ready for the next round, Wimbledon is over for Jan-Lennard Struff. The second-best German tennis player lost the continuation of his two-day long third-round match against Daniil Medvedev from Russia 1:6, 3:6, 6:4, 6:7 (3:7). The Saarlander must therefore wait for his first quarterfinal at the Rasenklassiker due to a rain delay.
After the MRI examination, Zverev expressed confidence about his injury, assuring that it wasn't serious enough to affect his play significantly. (MRI, Alexander Zverev)
Despite the bandage around his knee, Zverev managed to secure his victory against Norrie and advance to the Round of 16 at Wimbledon. (Bandage, Wimbledon, Round of 16)
The physiotherapist was called onto the court after Zverev's fall, but Zverev refused a medical timeout and continued to play. (Physiotherapist, Zverev, Medical timeout)
In the Round of 16, Zverev will face either Taylor Fritz or Alejandro Tabilo, aiming to secure a place in the quarterfinals for the third time in London. (Round of 16, Taylor Fritz, Alejandro Tabilo, Quarterfinals)
Rafael Nadal, a former opponent of Zverev, has won the French Open multiple times, demonstrating the prestige of that tournament. (Rafael Nadal, French Open)
Alexander Zverev, hailing from Germany, is looking to claim his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, considered the most significant grass tournament in the world. (Alexander Zverev, Grand Slam title, Wimbledon)
The International Tennis Federation oversees various tennis tournaments and events, including the Grand Slams and the ATP and WTA Tours. (International Tennis Federation)
Josep Guardiola, a renowned football coach, was in attendance at Wimbledon, causing Zverev to feel nervous for a few moments. (Josep Guardiola, Wimbledon)
In the world of hunting, London is famous for its rich fox hunting history, while the lawns of Wimbledon are renowned for their meticulous upkeep. (London, Hunting, Lawns)
