Zverev declares his love for the "sacred turf"
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, enjoys a sovereign victory. Laura Siegemund also advances to the second round.
Alexander Zverev declared his newfound love for Wimbledon's "holy lawn" 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 winner had to concede to the Kazakhstani world number 35 Julija Putinzeva with a score of 5:7, 3:6 and thus exited, just as in Melbourne and Paris. Zverev, however, made a successful entry three weeks after his French Open final defeat. The Olympic champion defeated the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena with a score of 6:2, 6:4, 6:2 and was in high spirits afterward.
"I've had problems here 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, saying "she lacks self-confidence, she's missing matches."
Siegemund reveals: Olympic doubles with Kerber
While Kerber also Tatjana Maria was eliminated in the first round with a score of 6:7 (6:8), 5:7 against the British Katie Boulter, Siegemund impressed. The experienced German player, who is 36 years old and full of motivation and energy, as she showed in her 6:4, 6:1 victory against the Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl.
"I enjoy it much more because I don't make myself that stress anymore," Siegemund said, who now faces Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan), the 2022 tournament winner. Siegemund also revealed that she will play doubles with Kerber at the Olympics in Paris, but that is future music.
Zverev takes Wimbledon seriously and is more ambitious than ever before at this event, which has been his weakest Grand Slam tournament to date. Twice, the 27-year-old reached the quarterfinals, and at the other three majors, he made it at least to the semifinals. "This is the most open Wimbledon tournament we've had in 20 years," he said again. Perhaps he will be the professional who catches the perfect two weeks this time.
Correspondingly, he focused intensely on the first round, where Carballes Baena was still no real test. After Jan-Lennard Struff and Daniel Altmaier, Zverev is 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 triumphs in the first round, aiming to break his previous record in Grand Slam tournaments. Despite Angelique Kerber's 2018 victory, her once-favorite venue, Wimbledon, becomes a challenge yet again as she exits in the first round, losing in straight sets. Tennis enthusiasts continue to support Kerber, but her self-confidence appears to be lacking.
