Zverev flies into the third round at breakneck speed
Demonstration on Grass: Alexander Zverev storms decisively into the third round of Wimbledon. For Jule Niemeier and Laura Siegemund, the hope was not fulfilled. In the Women's competition, there is now an empty sight from the German perspective.
Alexander Zverev took off his headband and then casually signed autographs: The Olympic champion solved his second-round task at Wimbledon in a hurry and with the highest seriousness. With the convincing 6:2, 6:1, 6:4 victory against the American Marcos Giron in just 1:34 hours of play time, the 27-year-old sent a clear message to the competition: With Zverev, one must also reckon on grass.
"I felt very good on the court," said Zverev after his relaxed victory and looked forward to the upcoming duel with the British Cameron Norrie: "I'm sorry, but I'll have to break your hearts," said Zverev with a smirk towards the London audience: "Please love me again afterwards." Previously, Jule Niemeier had flipped through her blue notebook in a desperate search for help and Laura Siegemund fought unyieldingly until the last ball - but it wasn't enough. In the Women's competition, there is now an empty sight from the German perspective. Daniel Altmaier also missed a good chance.
Siegemund annoyed the 2022 winner Jelena Rybakina for a long time and proved her qualities as a competitor despite her 3:6, 6:3, 3:6 defeat. Niemeier was clearly outmatched by the previous year's semifinalist Elina Svitolina from Ukraine. Under the table, no German player remains in the third round of the classic. Angelique Kerber, Eva Lys, and Tamara Korpatsch had already failed in the first round.
"The match I lost will help me"
Despite the bitter 6:7 (3:7), 3:6, 6:1, 7:6 (7:3), 4:6 loss to Denis Shapovalov, Altmaier looks at the experience positively. Jan-Lennard Struff had already secured a third-round spot on Wednesday. Zverev left no doubt that he would follow. Altmaier packed his defeat positively as valuable experience. "I don't know why I should be unhappy, to be honest," said the 25-year-old, for whom the second-round entry on an unfamiliar surface is a step forward: "The match I lost today will help me," he said.
Niemeier also sets herself positively, who seems to be on a positive course again after a difficult year 2023. Against top player Svitolina, she made too many avoidable mistakes. The hope for a further run like 2022, when it went for Niemeier up to the round of the last eight, was shattered.
Siegemund fought as usual and tore former team trainer Barbara Rittner from the microphone of Prime Video with it. "She plays simply different tennis, she has thought about something," said Rittner. But Rybakina had the last word. On Friday, the German tennis fans focus their eyes on Struff, who fights against Daniil Medvedev from Russia for a place in the quarterfinals. If everything goes perfectly for the football fan, he may even be able to follow his own success at the table in the evening and the German EM game against Spain.
Zverev's victory marked a strong showing in the sport, pushing him into the Women's competition's absence of German players in the third round, resulting in an overall debacle for German tennis at Wimbledon. Despite their best efforts, both Jule Niemeier and Laura Siegemund struggled, contributing to this disappointing round for Women's German representation.
