Zverev Overpowers Giron To Reach Wimbledon Third Round

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 fourth round at the Championships.

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.

Giron held to 30 for 2-3 while Zverev fired two consecutive aces, a crosscourt backhand winner, and held at love for 4-2. Giron hit a spectacular inside-in forehand winner but dropped serve following a mishit forehand and an overcooked backhand.

The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion serving with new balls, struck his fourth ace to secure the set 6-2 after twenty-seven minutes. Giron served first in the second and held to 30 with a 114mph serve down the middle while Zverev made 5/5 first serves and held easily to 15 to level.

Giron missed three consecutive first serves, faced a break point, and dumped serve when Zverev ripped the backhand return down the line. The world #4 maintained an aggressive mindset as he struck three consecutive winners including another ace to hold at love to consolidate the break.

Giron missed 5/6 first serves and it cost him as he faced a triple break point and dropped serve after netting a makeable backhand. Zverev hit three winners including two additional aces, the last on game point to consolidate the break for 5-1.

The American pummeled a forehand down the line and led 40-0 but four consecutive winners from Zverev and a double fault, cost him the game and set.

Zverev served first in the third and with four consecutive winners including his eighth ace, held at love for 1-0. Giron opened with a huge forehand inside-in and with another down the line, held to 15 to level.

Zverev opened the third with a brilliant backhand down the line and though he donated a double fault, held for 2-1 with two additional winners including his ninth ace. Giron made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 for 2-2 while Zverev opened with an ace and held to 15 after his opponent overcooked the return.

The American made 3/6 first serves and kept it close as he held to 30 for 3-3 while the German made 4/5 first serves and held to 15 to lead. Giron missed 4/6 first serves and gifted two unforced errors yet held to 30 to level at four.

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.