Wimbledon: Alexander Zverev reaches second round after beating Alexander Blockx

When Alexander Zverev stood at the microphone, he first paid homage to his opponent. Alexander Blockx, 21, has made great development, said the 29-year-old from Hamburg during a short interview on Center Court and revealed that when the draw was drawn he thought: such a strong man again! A year ago at the same place, Zverev suffered one of his most painful defeats in Grand Slam tournaments when he lost to the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in a game that lasted two days. Afterwards he spoke of fundamental mental problems and that he no longer felt any joy.

The fact that he was able to laugh this time after his opening match at the grass classic in Wimbledon was of course primarily due to his narrow 6:4, 6:7 (8), 7:6 (5), 7:6 (0) success against the world number 36. from Belgium. On the one hand, Zverev said with a grin: “I often have a hard time on this beautiful place.” On the other hand, he knew to report: “Having Roland Garros in the back of your mind can help you play well here. I hope I achieve my best career result here.”

Germany’s best tennis professional is also feeling the tailwind of his first Grand Slam title, which he won in Paris, on the British island. And he can use it. It is his tenth participation at the All England Club; Zverev has never reached the quarter-finals before. He has only reached the round of 16 three times, in 2017, 2021 and 2024. For him, Wimbledon was “always the Grand Slam tournament” where he “had the hardest time,” he had previously said, but this time the signs were different: “Personally, I have a different feeling this year.” After winning the title at the French Open, he felt “more joy and freedom”.

However, there wasn’t much of that to be seen on Tuesday. The game was a test of strength dominated by the serve, both professionals served well, Zverev with his 1.98 meters tall, Blockx with his 1.93 meters. If they didn’t hit any aces, winners or direct points afterwards, they often threw in double faults. Ultimately it was about who beats whom on and with the serve. There was rarely a mood, which was also due to the fact that many spectators took a break – before it was 44-year-old Serena Williams’ turn with her eagerly awaited comeback singles against Australian Maya Joint, 20. Many seats, including in the Royal Box, remained empty. The American had not played as a soloist for four years before she accepted a wild card for Wimbledon.

Yannick Hanfmann wins a main draw match at Wimbledon for the first time against Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard

Yannick Hanfmann from Karlsruhe celebrated a great success, winning a main draw match at Wimbledon for the first time with a score of 6:7 (6), 7:6 (9), 6:2, 6:3 against the powerful Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The 34-year-old, 56th in the world rankings, has had an underestimated development. He is now a regular part of the main draw at major tournaments, has established himself wonderfully as a professional, is reliably available for the German Davis Cup team, and is also an all-rounder. At the grass tournament in Stuttgart in mid-June he secured his first doubles title on the ATP Tour with Jan-Lennard Struff. Above all, a change in his serve gave him “a whole new boost”; he was able to score more free points without having to wear himself out in rallies. “And the serve keeps me in a match even when I might not be playing so well.”

The fact that Hanfmann is still under the public radar is also due to the fact that he didn’t really get very far in the Grand Slam tournaments where everyone is looking. “The Grand Slam theme is present for me,” he admitted. He would finally like to draw attention to himself at these majors: “I think I had a lot of tough draws early on. Going into the second week, I haven’t had that many chances yet. Who knows, maybe here.” In the second round, Hanfmann will face the Russian Karen Khachanow, “who is still a good, seeded player. But by far my best second-round draw in recent times. I also have the confidence to beat these people.”

It’s lucky for Hanfmann that he doesn’t meet a really big name again right away. He had to compete against world number one Jannik Sinner at the start of the US Open 2023 and Wimbledon 2024; at the Australian Open last January, the eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz from Spain eliminated him in round two. In any case, Hanfmann would like to attack in the late phase of his career: “I already have the confidence to say: There is still a lot left in terms of body and level.”

Laura Siegemund, 38, from Metzingen, was eliminated. She lost 2:6, 4:6 against Belgian Elise Mertens, 30, and thus lost her valuable points from the previous year. In 2025 she surprisingly reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Eva Lys, 24, lost in the evening to 22-year-old French Open semi-finalist Diana Schnaider, 5:7, 1:6; She missed a 5-2 lead in the first set. Ella Seidel, 21, like Lys from Hamburg, failed 4:6, 3:6 to the Czech Linda Noskova.