Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev faces a blatant outsider in his opening match at the classic lawn in Wimbledon (July 3rd to 16th).
The 26-year-old meets Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer in the first round. The number 153 in the world is only the second time in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament.
Alcaraz possible opponent in the round of 16
Nevertheless, Zverev did not find an easy way in the draw on Friday. In round three, Italian Matteo Berrettini, 2021 Wimbledon finalist, could wait. As early as the round of 16, Zverev is threatened with a duel with the Spanish world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic (Serbia) opens the tournament and the hunt for his fifth Wimbledon title against Argentinian Pedro Cachin. Zverev has never reached the quarterfinals of the most famous tennis tournament in the world, twice it was over in the round of 16. In all other Grand Slams, the native of Hamburg was at least once in the semifinals. In 2022, Zverev was absent from Church Road after his serious ankle injury at the French Open.
Hanfmann has to fight Fritz
A difficult task awaits Yannik Hanfmann. The player from Karlsruhe who was so strong last time, German number two in the tournament after Jan-Lennard Struff was injured, has to play against the ninth in the world rankings Taylor Fritz (USA). Because Oscar Otte (Cologne) meets Dominik Koepfer (Furtwangen), a German is sure to be in round two.
Maria meets Cirstea
For women, Tatjana Maria (Bad Saulgau) has to deal with Romanian Sorana Cirstea (WTA No. 36) one year after her sensational semi-final entry. Jule Niemeier (Dortmund), who failed in the quarterfinals to Maria last year, had a difficult task and met the Czech French Open finalist Karolina Muchova in round one.
The duels of the Germans in the overview
Men:
Alexander Zverev (Hamburg/No. 19) – Gijs Brouwer (Netherlands/Q)
Yannik Hanfmann (Karlsruhe) – Taylor Fritz (USA/No. 9)
Dominik Koepfer (Furtwangen) – Oscar Otte (Cologne/Q)
Daniel Altmaier (Kempen) – Aleksandar Vukic (Australia)
Maximilian Marterer (Nuremberg/Q) – Borna Gojo (Croatia)
Women:
Tatjana Maria (Bad Saulgau) – Sorana Cirstea (Romania)
Jule Niemeier (Dortmund) – Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic/No. 16)
Anna-Lena Friedsam (Neuwied) – Alycia Parks (USA)
Tamara Korpatsch (Hamburg/LL) – Carol Zhou (Canada/Q)