tennis
Quick end for Friedsam – rain causes strange scenes
Novak Djokovic dries the lawn during the rain break. photo
© Zac Goodwin/PA Wire/dpa
A German defeat, the first rain – it was a mixed start in Wimbledon. Tennis superstar Djokovic was also affected, but took it with humor.
The lawn in the most famous tennis stadium in the world had become too wet to continue the game quickly under the closed roof. Djokovic lent a hand himself and wiped the lawn with a towel. The waiting spectators celebrated the Serbian world number one for the unusual action. In addition, tournament employees tried to dry the wet areas with leaf blowers. At the time of the stoppage, Djokovic was leading 6-3 against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin.
Friedsam is defeated by Parks 4: 6, 3: 6
Before the rain, Friedsam had botched the start of the third Grand Slam tournament of the season from a German perspective. The 29-year-old lost in the first round against the American Alycia Parks 4: 6, 3: 6 and was the first German player to be eliminated. Friedsam made too many simple mistakes against the up-and-coming American and had to admit defeat after 1:41 hours. Parks (22) used her second match point.
That means Tatjana Maria, Jule Niemeier and Tamara Korpatsch from the German women. The trio will play their first round matches this Tuesday. Then the first appearance of Olympic champion Alexander Zverev against the Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer is also planned.
Swiatek continues effortlessly
World number one Iga Swiatek made a perfect start. The 22-year-old Pole won against Zhu Lin of China 6-1, 6-3 and easily advanced to the second round. The French Open winner converted her first match point after 80 minutes. The game on Court 1 was also briefly interrupted due to rain, but was then quickly continued under closed roof. First a tarpaulin and then the roof had protected the turf in the second largest stadium in the facility from the rain more quickly.
Swiatek had to give up last week at the WTA tournament in Bad Homburg due to being unwell before their semifinals. But at the start of Wimbledon, the number one in the tennis world made a good impression and was never in danger. “Luckily it wasn’t food poisoning. I feel good,” she said after her win.