A quick exit for Anna-Lena Friedsam, strange scenes with Novak Djokovic: The lawn classic in Wimbledon got off to a bumpy start on Monday. Because the roof over Center Court was closed too late when the rain started, defending champion Novak Djokovic’s opening match in London was interrupted for more than an hour. The lawn in the most famous tennis stadium in the world had become too wet to continue the game quickly under the closed roof.
Djokovic lent a hand himself and wiped the lawn with a towel. The waiting spectators celebrated the Serbian world number one for the unusual action. In addition, tournament employees tried to dry the wet areas with leaf blowers. At the time of the stoppage, Djokovic was leading 6-3 against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin.
Peaceful with too many mistakes
Before the rain, Friedsam had botched the start of the third Grand Slam tournament of the season from a German perspective. The 29-year-old lost in the first round against the American Alycia Parks 4: 6, 3: 6 and was the first German player to be eliminated. Friedsam made too many simple mistakes against the up-and-coming American and had to admit defeat after 1:41 hours. Parks (22) used her second match point.
That means Tatjana Maria, Jule Niemeier and Tamara Korpatsch from the German women. The trio will play their first round matches this Tuesday. Then the first appearance of Olympic champion Alexander Zverev against the Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer is also planned. Meanwhile, Maximilian Marterer won his opening match. The 28-year-old from Nuremberg won against the Croatian Borna Gojo on Monday 7: 5, 6: 7 (8:10), 6: 3, 6: 4.
World number one Iga Swiatek made a perfect start. The 22-year-old Pole won against Zhu Lin of China 6-1, 6-3 and easily advanced to the second round. The French Open winner converted her first match point after 80 minutes. The game on Court 1 was also briefly interrupted due to rain, but was then quickly continued under closed roof. First a tarpaulin and then the roof had protected the turf in the second largest stadium in the facility from the rain more quickly.
Published/Updated: Published/Updated: Thomas Klemm Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 3
Swiatek had to give up last week at the WTA tournament in Bad Homburg due to being unwell before their semifinals. But at the start of Wimbledon, the number one in the tennis world made a good impression and was never in danger. “Luckily it wasn’t food poisoning. I feel good,” she said after her victory.
