The day in Wimbledon: Favorite Kerber is eliminated – two unlikely heroines in the round of 16

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Could not do justice to her favorite role: Angelique Kerber

Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP

Angelique Kerber was eliminated early from the classic grass field in Wimbledon and, unlike Jule Niemeier and Tatjana Maria, missed the leap into the round of 16 of the tennis tournament.

The 2018 winner lost her third round game on Friday in 80 minutes against Belgian Elise Mertens 4: 6, 5: 7 and was twice unable to use a break advantage in the second set.

Last year, Kerber reached the semi-finals.

Jule Niemeier and Tatjana Maria had previously achieved great things.

The 34-year-old Maria surprised when she reached the round of 16 of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time just 15 months after the birth of her second daughter.

She defeated world number five Maria Sakkari from Greece 6:3, 7:5.

The young Dortmund player Jule Niemeier had previously won 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 3 against the Ukrainian Lessia Zurenko.

»There are no words for it, just the sheer joy of being able to experience this with my family«, said Maria.

From the seat, she made a declaration of love to her husband.

"None of this would be possible without him, he always believes in me, he supports me in everything," said Maria.

Niemeier, 22, was less euphoric.

After the hard-fought win against Lesia Zurenko, she was “just relieved” and “happy that I won, even if I couldn't show my best tennis.

The match was decided in our heads today.«

In the round of 16 she meets the British Heather Watson, eight years older than Niemeier, but also without experience at this level in a Grand Slam.

It took Watson 12 years and 43 attempts to make it into the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

Her victory over the Slovenian Kaja Juvan (7: 6 (6), 6: 2) made the eyes of the British fans wide open on Court One.

As number 121 in the world, Watson is even 24 places behind Niemeier.

Tatjana Maria is dealing with the former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia.

Clear defeat by Otte against Alcaraz

In addition to Angelique Kerber, another German clearly missed the round of 16 at the grass classic in Wimbledon.

The 28-year-old Oscar Otte lost in the third round to the young Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz 3: 6, 1: 6, 2: 6 and received a lesson at times.

After just 98 minutes, the 19-year-old won his first match point.

This eliminated the last of seven German tennis players in the men's competition.

In the absence of the injured Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, Otte was the German number one in the men's at Wimbledon and was seeded in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.

Alcaraz meets the Italian Jannik Sinner in the round of 16.

Then there could be a possible duel with number one seeded Novak Djoković from Serbia.

Ace record for Isner

John Isner has secured the record for most aces on the ATP Tour.

The 2.08 meter tall American beat the South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner in the third round game of the grass classic in Wimbledon on Friday for a total of 13,729.

ace, overtaking Croatia's Ivo Karlović, who had previously held the record.

This was announced by the professional organization ATP.

Serving giant Isner had defeated former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray of Great Britain in the second round and served 36 aces in that game alone.

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