Zverev overpowers Giron 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to reach Wimbledon third round
Marcos Giron from the United States has played outstanding tennis this season, reaching the final at the Dallas Open (l. to Paul) and the semis the following week in Delray Beach (l. to Fritz).
The thirty-year-old Californian is currently ranked #46 just two shy of his career high of forty-four. While he has made two finals on hardcourts, this is his fourth consecutive second-round appearance at Wimbledon.
Alexander Zverev won the Masters 1000 event in Rome in May and reached the final at Roland Garros losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a scintillating five-setter. The twenty-seven-year-old German is currently ranked #4 having attained a career high of #2 in 2022. Though he has won twenty-two career titles on hard and clay and reached two consecutive finals on grass in Halle (2016 & 2017), he has yet to progress past the…
This was their second tour-level meeting the first three years ago in the first round at the Australian Open which Zverev clinched in four. Zverev won the toss and chose to receive.
With the centre court roof closed, Giron missed 3/4 first serves, faced a triple break point, and dumped serve while Zverev held to 30 to consolidate the break for 2-0.
The American opened the third with a blistering crosscourt forehand and held at love to get on the board. The German struck three winners including a 130mph ace up the tee on game point for 3-1.
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Zverev had dictated play with his serve and off the ground for 2 ¾ sets but now displayed nerves. Although he missed 4/8 first serves, faced deuce, and committed three unforced errors, he secured the game and led with two aces out wide. Giron serving to stay in the match opened with an ace up the tee but three unforced errors sealed his fate as Zverev converted his first match point.
It was a masterclass from the six-time Masters 1000 champion. In 94 minutes, the 2021 US Open finalist struck twelve aces, and two double faults and won 88% of first and 65% of second serve points. He did not face a break point, converted 6/8, and hit thirty-four winners to twenty-six unforced errors. He was equally effective when returning, winning 37% of first and 62% of second-serve return points.
Awaiting in the third round is Britain’s adopted son Cam Norrie. The twenty-eight-year-old lefty was born in South Africa, grew up in New Zealand, and became a British citizen in 2013. The former world #8 is currently unseeded and ranked #42 but today dismantled the left-handed British #1 Jack Draper in straights. At the Championships in 2022, he lost in the penultimate round in four to eventual champion, Novak Djokovic.
Although Zverev leads the head-to-head 5-0, the last time they played he needed a fifth set tiebreaker in the round of 16 at the 2024 Australian Open. Zverev will need to bring his A-game in their first tour-level meeting on grass if he hopes to progress to the round of 16 for just the third time in his career.
