Monday, July 5th, 2021
Wimbledon-off after a great fight
Zverev’s cry only almost follows the comeback
First he slips and injures his knee, then Alexander Zverev is about to lose Wimbledon. But the German tennis ace comes back against Felix Auger-Aliassime and compensates for a 2-0 set deficit. In the end, the big fight wasn’t enough, the Canadian made it to the quarter-finals.
Germany’s top player Alexander Zverev failed in the round of 16 at Wimbledon. The fourth-placed Hamburger lost against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 16) a match of many turns with 4: 6, 6: 7 (6: 8), 6: 3, 6: 3, 4: 6 and missed his first quarter-finals in London.
With this, the Hamburger missed the chance to be only the third German after Boris Becker and Michael Stich to reach the round of the last eight in each of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Shortly before, Angelique Kerber had reached the quarter-finals with a 6: 4, 6: 4 against US youngster Cori Gauff.
A moment of shock and a break in the rain
Zverev went into the duel with Auger-Aliassime with the flawless record of three wins without losing a set from three encounters. That was how clear the balance of power on Court No. 1 but far from it. If Zverev’s serve was a safe bet in the previous rounds, this time it wobbled extremely. He served twelve double faults in the first two sets – that’s one of the reasons why he gave away a 4-2 lead over the almost flawless Canadian.
At the beginning of the third movement, the German caused a moment of shock. In a lunge, his right knee hyperextended, and Zverev doubled over in pain on the floor. But he continued to play – and suddenly much more grippy and focused. With a loud cheer, he celebrated the break to make it 4: 2 again, this time he did better and brought the set home.
Auger-Aliassime looked impressed. Suddenly Zverev’s serve ran smoothly, he acted much more confidently, with the momentum on his side he went into the decision set – and fell into old patterns. With three double mistakes, he gave his counterpart the break before the roof had to be closed due to rain. And the match had other twists and turns, but Zverev’s next loss of service to 3: 4 brought the preliminary decision.
Djokovic and Federer sovereign
On the other hand, top favorite Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals without major problems in his attack on the third Wimbledon victory in a row. The world number one from Serbia, who has already won the Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne and Paris this year, defeated the Chilean clay court specialist Cristian Garin 6: 2, 6: 4, 6: 2. In his 50th quarter-finals at major level, Djokovic meets Marton Fucsovics from Hungary, who defeated the Russian Andrej Rublew.
The Tour Dominator is aiming for his sixth title at Wimbledon. It would be his 20th at a Grand Slam tournament, so he would draw level with the joint leaders Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Rafael Nadal (Spain). Nadal is not in Wimbledon, while record winner Federer (eight titles) also mastered his round of 16 with 7: 5, 6: 4, 6: 2 against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
The 39-year-old Swiss is the oldest player to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in the era of professional tennis (since 1968). In London he is in the last eight for the 18th time, and for the 58th time at Grand Slams. Federer’s next opponent is world number two Daniil Medvedev (Russia) or Hubert Hurkacz (Poland), due to rain, their round of 16 will not continue until Tuesday. Medvedev leads by 2: 1 sets.
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