15:04
Zverev – Brouwer 6: 4, 2: 3
Gijs Brouwer has to go over 30:30 this time, but then grabs the net and converts the ball, which is worth seeing. The outsider from the Netherlands is also keeping up well in the second set and Sascha Zverev has to stay fully focused if he wants to get through here in three sets.
14:59
Zverev – Brouwer 6: 4, 2: 2
The serve is always better with the German! The first finds its way into the field almost 70% of the time and then Zverev makes the point for over 80%. So it quickly goes back to 40:0 before a few inaccuracies creep in again. But then Zverev pulls himself together, chases Brouwer across the field and forces the Dutchman’s next mistake. 2:2!
14:55
Zverev – Brouwer 6: 4, 1: 2
Wow! Brouwer continues to play well here and conjures up the next highlight on the court when he answers Zverev’s strong return with a backhand stop from the baseline, which turns behind the net so much that Zverev doesn’t even try to run the thing seriously. 2:1 for the Dutchman!
14:52
Zverev – Brouwer 6: 4, 1: 1
With his own service, Zverev can no longer burn anything. The German races to make it 40:0 and then inspires the audience with a very soulful praise that flies over the 1.91 meter long Gijs Brouwer and plops into the field just before the line. 1:1!
14:50
Zverev – Brouwer 6: 4, 0: 1
Gijs Brouwer is allowed to open the second set as well and does it pretty cool. Completely unimpressed by the loss of the first set, the Dutchman fires his forehand down the line and secures two balls. The next point also goes quickly to the 27-year-old, who once again makes it 1-0.
14:46
Zverev – Brouwer 6: 4
With his fifth ace, Sascha Zverev puts the lid on and wins the first set 6: 4! It took the Hamburger a while to acclimatise, but then he played his individual advantages better and better and brought the decisive break to the finish line with ease.
14:45
Zverev – Brouwer 5: 4
Brouwer keeps running around his backhand and thus offers Zverev the forehand corner. The German takes advantage of this and lands the next winner. A little later, two set balls are ready for Zverev!
14:43
Zverev – Brouwer 5: 4
After the shaky service game before, Gijs Brouwer is now doing better again and only lets Zverev come into the rally once. The Dutchman shortens to 4: 5, but after the change Zverev can close the sentence himself with his own serve.
14:40
Zverev – Brouwer 5: 3
A strong passing ball from Brouwer and a double fault bring a bit of excitement, but then Zverev forces the decisive point with a smooth serve to the outside and increases to 5: 3.
14:38
Zverev – Brouwer 4: 3
With the break in the back, Zverev is going a bit rounder. A first serve after the other crashes into the field and if that is not enough to win a point, the Hamburg player then safely follows up from the half field. 40:0!
14:35
Zverev – Brouwer 4: 3
Brouwer coolly fends off the first breakball with a fine forehand stop, but the next unforced error immediately gives Zverev a second chance. This time a solid cross return is enough to tempt the Dutchman to make another mistake and seal the break!
14:33
Zverev – Brouwer 3: 3
Brouwer now also throws in a few avoidable mistakes, misses several game balls and has to go through the debut again. When a forehand from the middle of the field sails far out, Alexander Zverev has his first break opportunity!
14:31
Zverev – Brouwer 3: 3
Zverev is slowly getting up to operating temperature! The Olympic champion opens with another strong forehand winner and a little later can get hold of a 15:30 for the first time. The first two break chances are already in sight, but Zverev’s next massive forehand gets stuck on the edge of the net. 30:30!
14:28
Zverev – Brouwer 3: 3
Sascha Zverev now seems much more stable and turns the game around with another ace to 40:15. The 26-year-old misses a cue ball, then a cracking forehand finds a longline and the score is 3:3.
14:27
Zverev – Brouwer 2: 3
Gijs Brouwer is only number 153 in the world rankings, but you can tell that the Dutchman’s three wins in qualifying here have given him confidence. The left-hander passes Zverev with his backhand at full speed and gets the first point.
14:25
Zverev – Brouwer 2: 3
A courageous attacking ball on the line brings the Dutchman the ball. Another good first behind and Brouwer grabs the lead again.
14:24
Zverev – Brouwer 2: 2
The first decent returns are still a long time coming. But then Brouwer brings Zverev into play with a double fault and then Zverev forces the 30:30 with the first long return.
14:22
Zverev – Brouwer 2: 2
That’s pretty much how Sascha Zverev imagines his service games. The German blunders once unnecessarily with the forehand from the half-field, but also serves two aces and records another service winner. It’s 2:2 in a flash.
14:19
Zverev – Brouwer 1: 2
While Zverev continues to look for security in his first Wimbledon match in two years and looks shaky, Gijs Brouwer also does it properly in his second service game. The 27-year-old serves solidly, gets a lot of free points and gets through to 15 again.
14:16
Zverev – Brouwer 1: 1
When it comes down to it, Zverev finally lands a few first serves and gets out of trouble again. In the rallies, the Hamburger increasingly gains the upper hand and makes the ball clear with three points in a row. The first ace then seals the 1:1.
14:14
Zverev – Brouwer 0: 1
With Sascha Zverev, nothing is going together at first. Gijs Brouwer grabs the first point with a lucky roll of the net, then another touch of the net causes the German to make his first double fault. Zverev then chases a backhand cross out and there are two breakballs!
14:11
Zverev – Brouwer 0: 1
Zverev is still looking for his rhythm on the return and puts the first ball directly out twice. Without any problems, Brouwer marches to win the first game.
14:09
Zverev – Brouwer 0:0
It’s going well. At the start, the two delivered a rather atypical rally over 18 strokes on grass, which ended with a backhand error by Zverev. Then it goes much faster and Gijs Brouwer increases to 30:0 with an ace.
14:08
Zverev – Brouwer 0:0
Dinner is served! Gijs Brouwer served.
14:04
It’s about to start!
In the meantime, the two protagonists have entered the square and started warming up. In a few minutes it will finally start with Sascha Zverev’s first Wimbledon appearance in 2023!
13:54
Zverev the clear favorite
Since he would probably have to start again tomorrow, it would also be important for Sascha Zverev to get through quickly and safely today. In principle, nothing stands in the way of that, because the German is the clear favorite against Brouwer. The serve will probably be decisive for the course of the game. If Zverev serves well, the Dutchman can hardly pose a threat to him.
1:40 p.m
Zverev starts, Djokovic in round three
While Alexander Zverev and Gijs Brouwer will hit their first ball in this tournament, others are already in the third round. First and foremost Novak Djokovic, who was allowed to play twice on Center Court and is still without losing a set. Jannik Sinner and Quentin Halys have already played two matches. Of course, the three of them have an advantage in terms of planning and relaxation.
13:38
Play this time!
Welcome to Alexander Zverev’s next attempt at his first round match at Wimbledon! The game against the Dutchman Gijs Brouwer has already been postponed twice, today it should finally work out. The game was moved to Court No.1 and could therefore even be played under the closed roof if it rained. So far it’s still looking sunny in London.
Zverev won’t play until tomorrow!
Now it’s official! Since the match between Thiem and Tsitsipas continues to drag on and a transfer to another court is out of the question, Alexander Zverev and Gijs Brouwer have to pack their things again. The game will then – if the weather cooperates – rise on tomorrow’s Thursday. Of course we’ll be back live in time. Goodbye from London and have a nice evening!
Fifth Movement
The wait is on. Thiem and Tsitsipas offer the spectators at Court No. 2 the full program and go to the decider. This will postpone the start of the Zverev match again.
Brouwer a blank slate
Zverev’s opponent Gijs Brouwer hasn’t moved too much on the AT tour so far. The Dutchman, who was born in the USA, is currently number 157 in the world rankings and primarily on the Challenger Tour. “I don’t know him, I’ve never seen him play,” Sascha Zverev had to admit in advance. After all, the left-hander, who likes to play serve & volley a lot, won three matches in the Wimbledon qualifier and thus earned his place in the main draw.
Zverev is approaching top form
With his semi-finals at the French Open, Sascha Zverev recently showed that he has finally returned to the top of the world after his serious injury. The man from Hamburg doesn’t see himself as strong on grass, finding himself “too big for the surface”. At the preparatory tournament in Halle, however, things looked pretty decent. After three smooth victories, Zverev only had to admit defeat to later champion Alexander Bublik in the semifinals.
Patience is required
Sascha Zverev and Gijs Brouwer have to be patient. Currently running on Court No. 2 nor the game between Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek has just grabbed the third round and is 2-1 ahead.
Later start
Since it rained a lot again today in London, Zverev will probably start his match much later than originally planned. A start before 7 p.m. is currently very unlikely, as several other games have to be finished in the same place beforehand.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to the next game of the Wimbledon Championships in London! Alexander Zverev gets it in his opening game on Court No. 2 to do with the Dutchman Gijs Brouwer.