Zverev declares fresh love after victory, Kerber goes down
The return to Wimbledon for Angelique Kerber is quickly ended, as she loses in the first round without winning a set. Alexander Zverev, on the other hand, celebrates a sovereign victory. Laura Siegemund also advances to the second round.
Alexander Zverev declared his fresh love for Wimbledon's "holy grass" spontaneously, while Kerber, the 2018 champion, left heavily with her head down: just three hours after the Olympic champion validated his title aspirations with his first actions, the tournament winner of 2018 suffered the next sensitive defeat at her longed-for place. Not even the "Angie, Angie" chants of her fans on Church Road helped.
Kerber's losing streak continues. The three-time Grand Slam champion had to give in to the 35th-ranked Kazakh Julija Putinzeva with a score of 5:7, 3:6 and left just as she did in Melbourne and Paris. Zverev, on the other hand, made a successful entry three weeks after his final loss at the French Open. The Olympic champion defeated the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena with a score of 6:2, 6:4, 6:2 and was in high spirits afterwards.
"I've had problems with grass courts over the years. But I feel different now," Zverev said. "Earlier, I always said that I don't like grass courts. Now I've decided that I love them." Former national coach Barbara Rittner, however, criticized Kerber on Prime Video for "not enough self-confidence, there's a lack of matches."
Siegemund revealed: Olympic doubles with Kerber
While Kerber also Tatjana Maria was eliminated through a 6:7 (6:8), 5:7 against the British Katie Boulter, Siegemund convinced. The experienced German player is still full of motivation and energy at the age of 36, as she demonstrated in her 6:4, 6:1 victory against the Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl.
"I enjoy it much more because I don't make myself that kind of stress anymore," Siegemund said, who now faces Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan), the tournament winner of 2022. Siegemund also revealed that she will play doubles with Kerber at the Olympics in Paris, but that is future music.
Zverev takes Wimbledon very seriously and is more ambitious than ever before at this event, which has been his weakest Grand Slam tournament so far. Twice, the 27-year-old reached the quarterfinals, at the other three majors he reached at least the semifinals. "This is the most open Wimbledon tournament we've had in 20 years," he said again. Perhaps he is the professional who catches the perfect two weeks this time.
Zverev focused accordingly on the first round, where Carballes Baena was still no real test. After Jan-Lennard Struff and Daniel Altmaier, Zverev is now the third German professional to reach the second round this year. There he awaits a meeting with the world number four, either with the local matador Henry Searle or the American Marcos Giron.
Alexander Zverev's love for Wimbledon's grass courts is evident, as he expressed his newfound affection for them after his victory. Despite her 2018 title, Angelique Kerber struggled once again in a Grand Slam tournament, losing in the first round of Wimbledon. Alexander Zverev, a German tennis player, defeated Roberto Carballes Baena in the opening round of Wimbledon, showing his determination to excel in this Grand Slam tournament.
