Can Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Grigor Dimitrov turn around Wimbledon disappointments?

Summer Starts with Despair for Zverev and Tsitsipas

Between them, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have reached five major singles finals and won 36 ATP singles titles. But in recent years, each has also shown signs of physical and emotional fragility.

Never was this more vividly revealed than at Wimbledon, both men eliminated in the first round. Plagued by a chronic back issue, Tsitsipas conceded that, “Right now I’m just absolutely left with no answers” after his mid-match retirement versus qualifier Valentin Royer.

Read more: Ivanisevic blasts Tsitsipas work ethic after Wimbledon loss

Tsitsipas’ coach, Goran Ivanisevic, recently went public with a critique, including saying that “I’ve never seen such a poorly prepared player in my life!” Were that my coach, I would talk—not text—with Ivanisevic and politely ask him to refrain from criticizing me publicly. What’s next to come for the Tsitsipas-Ivanisevic partnership?

Zverev’s lament took on an existential quality. “It’s not a feeling on a tennis court, it’s just a life feeling in general,” he said following his five-set loss to Arthur Rinderknech. “It’s difficult to find joy outside the tennis court.” But Zverev also vowed that by the time he came to compete in Canada in August he might have answers.

Please Light a Candle for Grigor

Let us not forget that no one pushed Sinner harder than Grigor Dimitrov, who took a two-sets-to-love lead in their round of 16 match before an injury forced him to retire in the third set. Sadly, this marked the fifth straight time that had happened to Dimitrov at a Grand Slam event.

That said, at 34, he’s still ranked 21 in the world. Hopefully, the streak has ended at Wimbledon.