After a sobering Wimbledon Thursday (04.07.2024) with the elimination of Jule Niemeier, Laura Siegemund and Daniel Altmaier, Sascha Zverev has ensured a German happy ending.
French Open finalist Zverev made it into the third round this evening with absolutely no problems. The world number four won clearly against the American Marcos Giron with 6:2, 6:1, 6:4 and is thus the second German tennis professional after Jan-Lennard Struff to play for a place in the round of 16.
Now Briton Cameron Norrie is waiting
On Saturday, Zverev will face Briton Cameron Norrie in the grass court classic in London, against whom he has won all five previous matches. After the first two rounds at Wimbledon, Zverev is still undefeated.
2nd round, men arrow right
The German top player, who lost the final in Paris in five sets against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, is on the hunt for his long-awaited first Grand Slam title.
End for Niemeier, Altmaier and Siegemund
The last two remaining German women, Jule Niemeier and Laura Siegemund, as well as Daniel Altmaier, were eliminated in the second round of the most famous tennis tournament in the world. All three went into their matches as underdogs and missed out on any surprises.
2nd round, women arrow right
Siegemund fought hard against defeat, but despite a good performance, she had to admit defeat to former Wimbledon champion Jelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan with 3:6, 6:3, 3:6.
Niemeier’s notebook didn’t help either
Niemeier lost 3:6, 4:6 to the Ukrainian Jelina Switolina. Two years after reaching the quarterfinals, the grass court classic ended in the second round for her for the second time in a row.
A strange trick didn’t help either: At the beginning of the second set, Niemeier took out a notebook and read something on a piece of paper. After 75 minutes, she still had to congratulate her opponent Switolina. 34 minor errors were too many. This means that the mood in the women’s competition is sad rather than festive: no singles player is in the third round.
Altmaier loses in five sets
In the men’s competition, the sporting highlight of the grass season ended for Altmaier after a five-set defeat to the 2021 Wimbledon semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov. “It’s a shame to play against Denis directly in the second round, against someone who feels most comfortable on grass,” said Altmaier after the 6:7 (3:7), 3:6, 6:1, 7:6 (7:3), 4:6 in the match against the Canadian, which had been postponed the day before.
“The matches will help me”
“I think I was able to create my chances to win the match. I don’t know why I should be dissatisfied,” said the 25-year-old. “I won in five sets and lost in five sets against someone who played in the semifinals here. I have a long career ahead of me. The matches will help me.”
Daniel Altmaier in action
After losing the second set, Altmaier played more offensively, got used to the pace and found his rhythm better. Altmaier equalized after sets against the fickle left-hander from Canada, but was unable to use the momentum to his advantage. At the start, Altmaier had achieved his first victory in the Wimbledon main draw.
Besides Zverev, only Jan-Lennard Struff is in the third round. The Sauerland native will face former US Open winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia on Friday
Djokovic struggles against number 277
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic avoided a fifth set in front of his family watching in the stands and struggled to make it into the third round. In his second appearance this year at London’s Church Road, the 37-year-old beat Briton Jacob Fearnley, who is 15 years younger, 6:3, 6:4, 5:7, 7:5.
The record Grand Slam tournament winner had to accept the loss of the first set two days after his trouble-free start in the grass classic and even then seemed vulnerable against the British wildcard holder. In this form, it is unlikely to be enough for his eighth Wimbledon title. Fearnley is only number 277 in the world.
Short rehabilitation period after knee surgery
“He made me work,” said Djokovic. “I probably had a bit of luck in the fourth set. This match probably deserved to go into the fifth set. But I’m happy that it didn’t happen that way.” On Saturday, Djokovic will fight against Alexei Popyrin from Australia for a place in the round of 16. “Physically, I felt OK,” said Djokovic, giving the all-clear.
After withdrawing from the French Open, he underwent knee surgery at the beginning of June. Despite the short rehabilitation period, the world number two decided to compete in Wimbledon and is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title.
Murray is celebrated in doubles – and is eliminated
For crowd favorite and local hero Andy Murray, the first round of the doubles match was the end of the road. The former champion was celebrated frenetically in the stadium during his warm-up and for every point he won. But it wasn’t enough for the duo Rinky Hijikata/John Peers from Australia: Andy Murray and his brother Jamie Murray lost 6:7 (6:8) and 4:6 and were eliminated.
