French Open champion Alexander Zverev has an allergy to grass and admits to struggling on Wimbledon’s “beautiful” ​Centre Court but showed enough in a first-round win over hard-hitting Belgian ‌Alexander Blockx on Tuesday to suggest he could embark ​on his best run yet in southwest London.

The ⁠29-year-old German second seed, who finally joined the Grand Slam winners’ club at the 41st attempt with his title run at Roland Garros, survived a ‌barrage of Blockz thunderbolts on Centre Court to seal a 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(5), 7-6(0) win.

Zverev lost in the ‌first round at Wimbledon last year to big-serving Frenchman Arthur ‌Rinderknech ⁠and a clash with the fast-rising Blockx looked fraught ⁠with danger. But he was clinical when it mattered most against the 21-year-old and managed to avoid a repeat.

“That was tough,” Zverev said on court. “When I saw the ​draw I thought here ‌we go again, someone who serves 140 mph and can take the racket out of your hands.”

Meanwhile, American fourth seed Ben Shelton was dumped out in the first round of Wimbledon by Finland’s Otto Virtanen, missing a match point before losing in a fifth-set tie-break.

The 23-year-old Shelton, an All England Club quarterfinalist last year, suffered his first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2023 French Open.

World number 140 Virtanen will face British wildcard Arthur Fery in the second round after a 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (8/10), 6-2, 7-6 (11/9) victory that lasted four hours and 21 minutes.

“I had a great month before this one, played a lot of grass matches,” said Virtanen. “I missed last year, had a few injuries… It feels so good to be back here.”

Also, American sixth seed Taylor Fritz, who reached the semifinals last year, eased past Dusan Lajovic in straight sets, while fifth seed Alex de Minaur also wasted little time in beating Roman Andres Burruchaga.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Published on Jun 30, 2026