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Wimbledon - Alexander Zverev fails sensational - sports
It's a debacle for Germany - on the first day. Hope bearer Zverev retires surprisingly, but is not the only disappointment.
Hope-bearer Alexander Zverev broke away at Wimbledon at the start and completed the German first-round debacle at the world's most famous tennis tournament. The 22-year-old Hamburger surprisingly succumbed to Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely on Monday and thus joined the defeat series. On a frustrating German tennis day at the time-honored facility in southwestern London, the world ranking fifth came out after a 6: 4, 3: 6, 2: 6, 5: 7.
It was clear that not one of the seven German starters - five men and two women - reached the second round on the opening day. Philipp Kohlschreiber did not stand a chance against Serbian defending champion Novak Djokovic. The initially 14 player comprehensive squad of the German Tennis Federation reduced by half after the first day.
For Zverev, the most famous tennis tournament is over now, before it really starts. The defeat blends into a ups and downs in a season so far mixed by the German number one. In fact, the Hamburger had adjusted to a difficult first round match and the world ranking 108th Vesely quickly confirmed his assessment. At first, everything went as planned for the 1.98 meter Zverev. He hit hard and secured the first set win with the first break of the game.
Watched by his coach Ivan Lendl, however, the 22-year-old lost his line with the loss penalty in the second set. After the set compensation Zverev began to discuss with the referee and promptly gave the serve again. Three chances to get to 3: 4 left out the German hopefuls and had to come to terms later with the situation that any further weakness phase would mean the early end.
Zverev had never retired at his four Wimbledon appearances in the first round. This time Davis Cup team principal Michael Kohlmann had even credited him the first jump into the semi-finals. Zverev seemed to have shaken off his first medium-sized earnings crisis at the end of the clay court season, he had his knee exhaustion from the tournament in Halle Westphalia cured in his own words in time for the height of the grass season.
Even before, the opening day on the famous tennis complex was sobering. Kohlschreiber had to defeat the Serbian world ranking first Djokovic 3: 6, 5: 7, 3: 6 beaten. Although the Augsburg showed a courageous performance, but ultimately had no chance. For Mona Barthel, Anna-Lena Friedsam, Peter Gojowczyk, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe and Mischa Zverev the special Wimbledon feeling was soon history again. No one but Zverev managed to win a sentence.
German hopes rest even more on Angelique Kerber. The defending champion attacks like six other German participants on Tuesday for the first time in the game. Against the Swabian Tatjana Maria, the Kieler is facing a tricky task.
