No other Grand Slam tournament is as closely associated with the golden era of German tennis as Wimbledon. It doesn’t look like a German coup this time. An overview, including what’s different.
Only three weeks after the drama of the final of the French Open with the defeated Alexander Zverev, Wimbledon is coming up. The grass classic is considered the most famous and prestigious tennis tournament in the world. An overview before the start:
When is the game played?
Unlike the first two Grand Slam tournaments of the season in Melbourne and Paris, Wimbledon does not start on Sunday. The first round matches begin on Monday. Matches that last into the night, which caused renewed discussions in Paris, are out of the question. The matches must be over by 11 p.m. at the latest because of the night-time quiet in the district.
The Sunday without matches was a long-standing tradition at Wimbledon, but has now been abolished. The singles trophies will then be awarded on the final weekend – on July 13th for the women and July 14th for the men.
What role does Zverev play?
He reached the final in Paris, but on clay. The Hamburg native starts Wimbledon as number four in the world and with the tailwind of the French Open, but the top favorites are different. It is anything but likely that Zverev will end the long wait for a German title holder in the men’s singles at Wimbledon. He was always eliminated in the round of the best 16 at the latest. Zverev is confident this time: “It is the first time that I really think I am here as a candidate to perhaps win the title,” said the best German tennis player.
He will first play against the Spanish world number 65 Roberto Carballés Baena. In the semifinals he could face record Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
And the other Germans?
Among the German women, attention is focused on Angelique Kerber. The 2018 Wimbledon champion, however, disappointed in the dress rehearsal in Bad Homburg and faces a difficult task against the unpleasant Kazakh Yulia Putintseva. Nevertheless, she will be hoping that things will go better than in her first two Grand Slam appearances after her maternity leave. Both times she was eliminated in the first round.
In the men’s competition, Jan-Lennard Struff, who often plays aggressively and offensively, can also pose a threat to favored opponents. A total of twelve Germans are in the main field: six women, six men. Yannick Hanfmann is unlucky, as he will play against world number one Jannik Sinner in the first round.
Who are the top favorites?
A lot will depend on Djokovic’s fitness. If his knee is ready for matches over three sets, you have to include the record Grand Slam champion. At the French Open, he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and had to withdraw from his quarter-finals. This was followed by an operation and a quick return to the training court. He is “pain-free,” he said in London. The knee has responded very well to intensive training. And he has not had a single setback during the course of his rehab.
Title contenders also include Spanish defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Australian Open winner Sinner. Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal is resting his ailing body for a planned final start at the Olympic Games on clay in Paris. He believes that this Wimbledon edition is perhaps more open than any other in 20 years in terms of the possible winners, said Zverev.
In the women’s competition, the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek is not the clear favorite this time. Wimbledon has not been her thing so far. The Belarusian Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka, who has recently been struggling, and the American Coco Gauff are also to be reckoned with, as are the 2022 Wimbledon winner Jelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan and defending champion Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic.
How much is the prize money?
Higher than ever. The organizers are paying out the equivalent of more than 59 million euros, a significant increase on the previous year. The individual winners will each receive prize money of around 3.2 million euros. First-round losers in the individual competition will receive around 71,000 euros.
Where can I watch the matches?
For the first time, the tournament will be shown on Prime’s paid Internet TV service. Amazon is replacing the pay-TV broadcaster Sky. The contract runs until 2027.
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.
