Tennis: Sensation through Siegemund: First round of 16 in Wimbledon

Laura Siegemund dropped the racket and jumped up and down in disbelief. The 37-year-old double specialist has made a great sensation in Wimbledon and for the first time in her career has reached the round of 16 at the classic lawn. The Australian Open winner Madison Keys from the United States defeated victory in the third round with a tactical masterpiece with 6: 3, 6: 3. The Schwäbin annoyed the favorite world rankings with its variable game and numerous stop balls.

After the triumph, she hugged her friend and coach Antonio Zucca after the triumph. “I’m really happy. It wasn’t easy, it was really windy,” said Siegemund, who only briefly trembled towards the end of the game. “If you don’t show nerves at that moment, you are probably dead. It is a chance, there is no pressure for me. I tried to remember that I just play for myself. I don’t have to prove anything anymore.”

In the round of the best 16, the world ranking 104. Now calculate good chances against Solana Sierra. The Argentinian had actually already failed in qualification, but moved into the main field as a Lucky Loserin. For victory, it was the second victory over a set player after the two-round success of the Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

Prize money of almost a quarter of a million in British pounds

As the last remaining German tennis player, she also secured £ 240,000 (278,000 euros). At 37 she is the oldest player in the round of 16. The sixth player in the history of profit tennis that this has achieved in Wimbledon at this age is the victory. There are only the very big ones on this list: Billie Jean King, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, Venus and Serena Williams.

Siegemund had announced that she should not “let her opponent” come to the trigger with the mighty basic strokes. And the Schwäbin immediately implemented the plan. With a constant change of tempo, interspersed short balls and blocked returns, she tried to get keys out of rhythm again and again.

She looked out part of the tactic from Tatjana Maria, who conquered keys on the way to the tournament victory at the preparation tournament of Queen’s. “I learned from the Tadde,” said Siegemund at Prime Video. “Then she snapped what it takes, that hurts.”

Favorite opponent annoyed

With the recipe, Siegemund got the first break of the game to 2-1 and could not be released from his own loss of service. Keys seemed more and more unnerves, made slight mistakes. After 48 minutes, a ball of the player in number six sailed online, with a loud “come on” she celebrated the set win.

At the beginning of the second round, a break received a break – but was again unimpressed. She won four games in a row and had three match balls in a row at 5: 2. Keys reared up again, but after 93 minutes, victory and was allowed to cheer.

Three Grand Slam titles won

Siegemund actually specializes in Grand Slams for doubles and mixed, but also stays in the world rankings in the world rankings with 37 in places around the top 100 and has thus guaranteed a place in individual.

“It’s already heavy,” she said to her workload with three competitions in Wimbledon. “It is quite good to rock doubles and mixed on the side. If you are in the singles, it will be a lot. But I also didn’t have expected that I am still in the singles. I would be happy to take it with me.”

So far she has celebrated three title gains at Grand-Slam tournaments: in doubles, Siegemund 2020 won the US Open alongside the Russian Vera Swonarewa. In 2024 she triumphed at the French Open with Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) and in 2016 at the US Open with Ante Pavic (Croatia) in mixed. In Wimbledon, too, she is at the start in all three competitions.