Wimbledon 2022: Maximilian Marterer and Jule Niemeier in round two

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Jule Niemeier

Photo: Frank Molter / dpa

Maximilian Marterer was the first German tennis pro to reach the second round.

The 27-year-old qualifier defeated the Slovenian Aljaž Bedene after 3:04 hours of play 4:6, 7:5, 6:4, 7:5 and was not discouraged by two long breaks in the rain.

Marterer now meets 23rd seed Frances Tiafoe from the USA.

For the world number 172.

it was the first win ever in the Wimbledon main draw, which he had fought his way into by winning three qualifiers.

Premiere for Jule Niemeier

Jule Niemeier has won the first Grand Slam match of her tennis career.

The 22-year-old prevailed against the Chinese Wang Xiyu 6: 1, 6: 4 and advanced to the second round.

There, number 97 in the world rankings will meet Estonian Anett Kontaveit, number two, on Wednesday.

Defending champion with difficulty

Defending champion Novak Djoković started with more trouble than expected.

The six-time champion from Serbia beat the South Korean Kwon Soon-woo after 2:27 hours 6:3, 3:6, 6:3, 6:4 under the closed roof of the Center Court.

“He played really well.

Without preparatory matches you feel less confident than you would like," said Djokovic: "I had to find a way to gain control over the points.

My serve helped.

If he had converted the break point in the third set, it could have been different."

Djoković, 35, is the favorite in the All England Club after three triumphs in a row, without the excluded world number one Daniil Medvedev from Russia and his injured pursuer Alexander Zverev, he is in first place.

Against Kwon, number 81 in the ranking, Djoković made an unusual number of mistakes.

After the quarter-finals of the French Open against Rafael Nadal, he took a break and did not play a preparatory tournament at Wimbledon.

The lack of match practice on grass was noticeable.

Hurkacz is eliminated

Surprisingly, Hubert Hurkacz, who traveled to Wimbledon as a semi-finalist and winner in Halle/Westphalia as one of the favorites, was eliminated.

The Pole lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6:7 (4:7), 4:6, 7:5, 6:2, 6:7 (8:10).

He almost had the game back under control after match points against himself in the third set.

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