Monday, June 28, 2021
Siegemund complains about the rain break
Weather chaos dominates the Wimbledon opener
Nothing goes for hours at Wimbledon, the first day of the tennis classic is characterized by rain and the resulting breaks. While Dominik Koepfer wins unimpressed, Laura Siegemund is eliminated and exasperated. Novak Djokovic has to struggle.
The tennis professionals had to wait two long years for the classic lawn game to return at Wimbledon – and then rain made for a typically British false start. Dominik Koepfer was not impressed by the traditional delays caused by London weather capers, Laura Siegemund and Yannick Hanfmann, on the other hand, had to accept the first German disappointments after almost five hours of waiting.
Koepfer, who first triumphed as a wildcard starter on the big stage two years ago at Wimbledon, defeated the American Reilly Opelka, who was seeded in 27th position, 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 2. On the world rankings 62. Now either compatriot Daniel Masur or Kwon Sonwoo from South Korea is waiting.
The 33-year-old Siegemund, who had already failed at the opening hurdles at the Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne and Paris this year, had no chance against the Russian Jekaterina Alexandrowa and lost 1: 6, 3: 6 in just 58 minutes . Hanfmann was also clearly defeated by the Czech Jiri Vesely 1: 6, 5: 7, 6: 7 (5: 7), while Stefanos Tsitsipas was the first co-favorite to crash.
At Siegemund, the communication between the organizers during the rain break was particularly critical. “They always postponed it by half an hour, and that over five hours,” said the Swabian: “I really warmed up four times. It’s not nice, it’s not fun.” Philipp Kohlschreiber and Mona Barthel waited in vain and have to make a new attempt on Tuesday.
Djokovic shock fails sensationally
Last year, the Wimbledon Championships were canceled for the first time since the Second World War because of the corona pandemic. And when it finally started again, the spectators only saw the dark green rain tarpaulin on the courts instead of the finest lawn tennis.
At least the fans came – the British authorities had allowed a 50 percent occupancy rate – on Center Court and Court No. 1 enjoy tennis without delay thanks to the roofs. Defending champion Novak Djokovic was able to enter the tournament as planned and only had problems at the beginning of the 4: 6, 6: 1, 6: 2, 6: 2 against the British wildcard starter Jack Draper. The Greek Tsitsipas, whom Djokovic had defeated two weeks ago in the final of the French Open despite 0: 2 set deficit, surprisingly failed against the American Frances Tiafoe 4: 6, 4: 6, 3: 6.
For the two German top players Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber as well as Jan-Lennard Struff against the world number two Daniil Medwedew, it doesn’t start until Tuesday – and since everyone is on the covered Court No. 1, you are spared waiting times. While Zverev wants to ensure the next German men’s title 30 years after Michael Stich’s legendary final triumph over Boris Becker, Kerber starts with a lot of self-confidence in her “feel-good oasis” after her first tournament victory in three years in Bad Homburg.
The 2018 Wimbledon winner emphasized before her first round match against the lower-ranking Serbian Nina Stojanovic that she was going to the tournament “without pressure”. “Every single lap is a win for me,” said the 33-year-old. The expectations at Zverev are different after the narrowly missed final at the French Open, even if grass was its weakest surface so far.
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