At the French Open, a German quartet is fighting for entry into round three. Alexander Zverev is in a special place due to a short-term cancellation.
For the first time after his serious ankle injury last year, Alexander Zverev returns to the accident site at the French Open.
Due to the injury-related withdrawal of Frenchman Gaël Monfils, the organizers whirled up the schedule for today. Zverev now meets Slovakian Alex Molcan in the second round in the so-called night session in the evening on the Philippe-Chatrier court. The game will not start before 8:15 p.m.
In the largest stadium in the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, Zverev suffered a bad ankle injury in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal a year ago and was out for a long time with multiple torn ligaments. “It will be different when I’m back on the chatrier for the first time,” Zverev said before the first round about the possibility of returning. “Then it may be that there are other feelings for me.” Against the world number 86. Molcan is Zverev’s clear favourite.
He has a long history with his opponent. “We’ve known each other since we were 13 or 14 years old,” said Zverev. “We’ve played every European junior tournament there is.” According to Zverev, the last duel was twelve years ago, and the two met for the first time in the professional field.
Last German player
Anna-Lena Friedsam finds herself in an unusual role. After the departure of Jule Niemeier and Tatjana Maria, Angelique Kerber’s baby break and the resignation of companions like Andrea Petkovic, she is the last remaining German in the field. “I’ve been through everything. When I was number 50 in the world, I was number five in Germany,” recalled today’s world number 91. of better times in German women’s tennis. “With my own history of ups and downs, I have a clear view of it.”
With a win against the 23rd seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrowa Friedsam would move into the third round for the first time in Paris.
Not just a reward
Daniel Altmaier faces the toughest task of the German quartet in the second round. On the Suzanne-Lenglen court, the 24-year-old from Kempen meets number eight seeded Italian Jannik Sinner. However, Altmaier does not want the game to be understood as a pure bonus. “If that were a reward, I wouldn’t need to go out on the pitch,” he said. “I have a very clear vision and I go out there to win, everything else makes no sense.”
Only for the second time in his career is Yannick Hanfmann from Karlsruhe among the top 64 in a Grand Slam tournament. After a big fight over almost five hours and five sets at the start, it will also depend on the physique against the Argentinian Francisco Cerúndolo.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
