World No. 3 Alexander Zverev skilled undesirable deja vu Tuesday at Wimbledon, dropping within the opening spherical for the second time in his profession at London’s All England Garden Tennis Membership. Zverev held serve within the fourth set to pressure and win a tiebreak earlier than Rinderknech responded with the largest close-out of his profession 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4.
Rinderknech, who did not lose his serve all through the match, had misplaced 18 of the 25 matches performed in 2025 earlier than the 72nd-ranked participant introduced out his greatest on grass. He’s 2-16 profession in opposition to high 10 opponents, the one different victory coming in opposition to American Ben Shelton earlier this 12 months.
Zverev had a nasty miss past the baseline on a passing shot on serve at 40-30 within the third recreation of the fifth set and was damaged two factors later by Rinderknech after developing quick on a two-hand backhand attempt.
Rinderknech took the following recreation with ease on serve together with a commanding 3-1 benefit within the remaining set. A pair video games later, Rinderknech’s monster forehand completed off Zverev within the eighth recreation of the fifth for a 5-3 lead.
Zverev barely obtained a racket on Rinderknech’s well-placed return because the Wimbledon crowd cheered loudly for the underdog previous to the changeover. On match level No. 3 at 5-4, Rinderknech clinched the victory with a winner. Rinderknech almost gained the match earlier after benefitting from consecutive forehand errors from Zverev to open the fourth-set tiebreak, together with a swat that struck the online wire and sailed huge.
Nonetheless, the 6-foot-6 German wasn’t completed. At 4-3 within the tiebreak, Rinderknech compelled a backhand that went lengthy from Zverev earlier than failing on a forehand to maintain his opponent within the match. Zverev knotted the tiebreak at 5 after successful a rally on his subsequent serve earlier than taking a one-point lead on an ace that traveled 136 miles per hour.
Rinderknech misplaced the set on serve when an tried drop shot landed within the internet, pushing the match to 5 units.
Zverev mentioned earlier than the match he was beginning to really feel extra comfy on Wimbledon’s floor.
“I did not notably love grass earlier than, however I do really feel like the previous few years I have been enjoying properly on the floor, particularly final 12 months we mentioned I felt like I used to be enjoying my greatest tennis at Wimbledon, however then I obtained injured, sadly, within the third spherical in opposition to Cam Norrie,” Zverev mentioned, through Tennis365. “I hope this 12 months goes to be no totally different and hopefully with out damage and we’ll see how far I can go and what I can do presently.”
Zverev, who greatest end at Wimbledon options three fourth-round appearances, is coming off a French Open quarterfinals loss to Novak Djokovic earlier this summer time and blamed the climate on his inconsistent play.
Zverev has by no means gained a Grand Slam and has misplaced thrice in respective finals, together with the 2025 Australian Open. Zverev is now 35-14 in singles matches on the 12 months along with his lone match victory coming on the BMW Open.
