With a great energy performance, Tatjana Maria managed the next surprise at the tennis classic in Wimbledon and reached the quarterfinals for the first time. Jule Niemeier followed her a little later.
Tatjana Maria enjoyed her next goosebump coup with her eyes closed, Jule Niemeier threw her bat on the floor in disbelief. With enthusiastic performances, the two German tennis surprises continued their sensational runs at the grass classic in Wimbledon and are now meeting in the quarter-finals of the generations.
Energy performance of Maria
With a great energy performance, the mother of two Maria at the age of 34 defeated the number twelve seeded Jelena Ostapenko 5: 7, 7: 5, 7: 5. Less than 30 minutes later, the 22-year-old Niemeier celebrated her sovereign 6: 2, 6: 4 on the Center Court against British local hero Heather Watson. Maria and Niemeier collect the equivalent of 360,000 euros each for their success.
In all of her previous career, Niemeier had not earned that much overall. “I’m sorry I had to throw a Brit out today,” said Niemeier with a Wimbledon towel over his shoulders. “I’m super proud of myself.”
Thanks to “amazing audience”
“Oh my god. I have no words for this incredible audience”, said Maria overwhelmed and thanked for the support. “I said to myself: They believe in me, so I believe in myself too.” In the second set, Maria fended off two match points from her opponent and after 2:07 hours she got the biggest success of her career.
Just 15 months after the birth of her second daughter, Cecilia, she is standing with one for the first time in her career Grand Slam-Tournament among the top eight. “It makes me so proud to be a mother. It’s the best thing in the world,” she said in her acceptance speech. “I love my two children.”
Joining the Last 8 Club
The success also got Maria and Niemeier into Wimbledon’s elite “Last 8 Club”. All of the individual quarter-finalists are in it and receive, among other things, lifetime tickets for the most prestigious tournament in the world.
Before the game, numerous former champions such as Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert and Angelique Kerber were on the pitch at the 100-year celebration of Center Court. “I didn’t want to watch the show because I was pretty nervous,” confessed Niemeier. You are now missing three victories for an absolute sensation.
Niemeier – Spectacular rallies
After a balanced initial phase, the Dortmund player won one of the most spectacular points of the entire tournament. After a successful backhand from running back after a lob, the Dortmund player threw both arms up, the point to 2: 2 also inspired legends like Billie Jean King and Björn Borg in the honorary stand.
With her strong serve, fast forehand and variable game, the world number 97 dominated. the happening. With a fine forehand stop, she secured the first set after just 27 minutes. The second round was tighter, but Niemeier always kept his cool and used the third match point.
Defending champion Djokovic easily continues
Defending champion Novak Djokovic hardly gave Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven a chance in the round of 16. The six-time tournament winner from Serbia prevailed 6: 2, 4: 6, 6: 1, 6: 2 late on Sunday evening and thus ended a series of world rankings 104.
Van Rijthoven surprisingly triumphed at the preparatory tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and then received a wild card from the All England Club. The 25-year-old, who hadn’t won a match on the ATP tour until ‘s-Hertogenbosch, was also convincing in Wimbledon.
His run ended against Djokovic, although he had briefly robbed the third in the world rankings and surprisingly won the second set. As a result, however, the 35-year-old tournament favorite turned up the heat.
In the quarterfinals Djokovic will face Jannik Sinner on Tuesday. In the duel of the young stars, the Italian defeated the Spanish shooting star Carlos Alcaraz 6: 1, 6: 4, 6: 7 (8:10), 6: 3.
Out for Alcaraz in the round of 16
Shooting star Carlos Alcaraz missed the first quarter-finals after a show of strength on Center Court. The 19-year-old Spaniard lost the duel with the one-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner 1: 6, 4: 6, 7: 6 (10: 8), 3: 6 on Sunday evening.
Spanish tennis pro Carlos Alcaraz
Against the world number 13. Alcaraz fell behind early on. After just 32 minutes, the climber on the tennis scene lost the first set, after which his opponent successfully defended an early break to take a 2-0 lead.
Sinner has nerves of steel in the fourth set
In the tie-break of the third round, Alcaraz fended off two match points and forced the Italian into the fourth set. There, after 3:35 hours of play, Sinner used his sixth chance to win.