Tennis - Uneventful victory: Zverev plays for Wimbledon round of 16
With an impressive win, tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev advanced to the third round at Wimbledon. The French Open finalist left no chance for American Marcos Giron at the grass-court classic on London's Church Road. The score was 6:2, 6:1, 6:4 on the second largest Wimbledon court. "I felt really good on the court," Zverev said. He was happy to have ended the match in three sets.
Zverev faces favorite opponent
With this, Zverev, like Jan-Lennard Struff, becomes the second German with a chance to reach the quarterfinals. While Struff already needs a major upset against Russian top player Daniil Medvedev on Friday to make it to the last 16, Zverev faces another winnable challenge against one of his favorite opponents. On Saturday, the world No. 4 faces Brit Cameron Norrie, against whom he has won all five encounters. "I'm sorry, I'll have to break your hearts - or I hope I will," he joked to the crowd.
However, Zverev lost to Norrie in the first round of the Australian Open this season in a tight fifth-set tiebreak. Moreover, Norrie, Zverev's next opponent at Wimbledon, defeated his countryman and Stuttgart champion Jack Draper in three sets in the second round.
Zverev focused from the start against Giron
Zverev failed to make it past the third round at the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world last year. Wimbledon is his weakest of the four Grand Slam tournaments. At his second appearance at the 137th Wimbledon edition, the German top player looked focused from the start. It's not often that the first seven points all go to him. He intimidated the world No. 46 Giron on the grass. The first break was already achieved after the first game, and the second followed at 5:2.
Two days after his clear victory in the first round, Zverev played ruthlessly, often leaving Giron struggling to get into the rallies. Even in the second set, Zverev denied the challenger any opportunity. The third set was more balanced. After his weaker Wimbledon performances in recent years, the Hamburg native had decided to surprise and overcome his aversion to grass tennis this year. And he confirmed his intention to compete as a title contender this season.
Zverev's victory against Giron at Wimbledon was a reminder of his talent on international courts. The German tennis star's dominant performance was reminiscent of his victory at the French Open, showcasing his versatility on different types of surfaces. The victory also boosted Germany's presence at Wimbledon, as Zverev joined Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round, aiming for a deep run in the tournament. Giron, representing the United States, was unable to match Zverev's powerful game on the grass courts of London's Church Road. The next challenge for Zverev will be against British player Cameron Norrie, who has already shown his form at Wimbledon, defeating another British player Jack Draper in the second round.
