Tennis: Siegemund continues Wimbledon fairy tale – top favorite is waiting

Laura Siegemund threw her racket in the air, shook his head in disbelief and shaped a heart for the spectators with his hands. The 37-year-old also defied the weather caps with thunderstorms and rain in her fairytale run in Wimbledon and reached the individual quarter-final at the classic lawn for the first time in her career. Thanks to a clarified performance, the Schwäbin prevailed in the round of the top 16 against the outsider Solana Sierra from Argentina 6: 3, 6: 2.

Now she is facing the most difficult task against the world ranking aryna Sabalenka. “She is one of the greatest and most aggressive players we have,” said Siegemund. “The only good thing about the match is that I have absolutely nothing to lose.”

On the pitch, she was overwhelmed by her success in the game in which she had been favorite for the first time at this tournament. “That was my most difficult match. I’m just super happy,” enthused Siegemund in her interview on the pitch.

Friend and trainer: “You should just enjoy it now”

When mentioning her age as the oldest remaining player, the audience donated an extra applause for victory. “It is not often that you get such a compliment that you are old,” she said with a laugh. The oldest player who achieved her first Wimbledon quarter-finals in the history of the profit tennis is the oldest player.

After her triumph, she heard her friend and coach Antonio Zucca, who was sitting in the stands. “We didn’t expect this when we came here,” said the Italian of the German Press Agency. “You should just enjoy it.” Siegemund could not be released by two longer rain interruptions.

She is now a member of Wimbledon’s elite Last 8 Club, which guarantees all quarter-final participants for lifelong tickets. The Schwäbin also collects prize money of £ 400,000 (464,000 euros). “Sensational,” said Rainer Schüttler, selection coach of the German tennis women. “Well deserved, incredibly played, mixed with slice, topspin, stop, she gave the opponent no rhythm, sensational and perfect.”

Second quarter -finals at a Grand Slam

Only once was in the top eight in a single eight at a Grand Slam tournament: in 2020 at the French Open, she also lost as a unsettered player against the Czech Petra Kvitova. “This is absolutely one of the greatest successes of my career, and then on lawn,” she said before the round of 16.

The 21 -year -old Sierra had actually failed in qualification, but was moving into the main field because of the withdrawal of a player. She would have been the first Lucky Lotin of professional history in women’s tennis, who would have reached the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam.

Flash and thunder over London

At the first surcharge of Sierra, the thunder rumbled over the layout of the All England Club. The game found Court No. 2 instead, the largest place in Wimbledon without a roof. After only four points played, it rained more and more, the players briefly rained on the pitch until after the next violent flash of lightning went into the cabin.

It continued 77 minutes later. Siegemund took the surcharge directly from her younger opponent, but also immediately received the first break. A nervous game developed with plenty of mistakes on both sides, the players were clearly noticeable.

“Very strong”: victory and victory cheers himself

Siegemund presented himself more stable, put Sierra under pressure with a change of fast and undercut balls. The decisive break succeeded in 4: 3, after 48 minutes a ball of the Argentine sailed out at the end of the first set. A total of 21 unscathed mistakes from Sierra were clearly too much.

Siegemund also started the start of the second round. “Very strong,” she cheered on for a successful ball. The next thunder followed a few seconds later – and the next forced break.

Title chance also in doubles

This time it took just under an hour, when the sun was started. Siegemund immediately came back into the game, quickly led 3-0. Sierra broke up again against the defeat, but after 1:19 hours of victory and was allowed to cheer.

In addition, she also offers a title chance in doubles, with the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia she plays in the round of 16. Because of the triple pollution, she had withdrawn from the mixed. So far, three Grand Slam titles has won in her career: two in mixed and one in doubles.