Germany’s tennis star Alexander Zverev has in the first round in Wimbledon have to accept a severe defeat. The world number third from Hamburg lost to the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech after 4:44 hours with 6: 7 (3: 7), 7: 6 (10: 8), 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5), 4: 6 and experienced one of the greatest disappointments in his career. With this, Zverev’s dream ended prematurely after the desired first Grand Slam title.
Zverev already had against the world ranking 72 on Monday evening. Nearly wobbled, the match on the legendary Center Court in the All England Club was interrupted at 1-1 after sets for noise protection reasons. A day later, there was no improvement in the German game: Zverev had more than 30 degrees planned and perplexed and retired in the first round in the southwest of London for the first time since 2019.
Already in his first service game Zverev had to ward off two break balls, a service later he collected the break. As a result, Zverev did not find a remedy against Rinderknech, which repeatedly scored points through stops. Despite the catch -up in the fourth sentence, where he in the meantime in Tiebreak 3: 5, there was no rearing of the German in the decisive last round.
Struff is the last German in the second round
“It is simply the first round with a Grand Slam. Especially on lawn, so much can happen,” said brother and manager Mischa Zverev at Prime Video. “Life and tennis season continue.”
After the final defeat at the Australian Open against the Italian Jannik Sinner and the deserved end in the quarter-finals of the French Open against Novak đoković, the 28-year-old will only remain the US Open this year to fulfill the dream of the first Grand Slam title.
With that of Zverev, Jan-Lennard Struff is the last remaining German man in the main field in Wimbledon. The Warsteiner will meet the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliasy on Wednesday. Eva Lys and Laura Siegemund are still in the second single round for women. After her surprising semi -finals in 2022, Tatjana Maria failed for the third time in succession. The 20-year-old Eva Seidel bent around her Wimbledon debut and contracted a ligament tear after a first diagnosis. Seidel had to give up in her first round match against Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maniro at 3: 6, 2: 3.
