Thursday was a joyous day for Denmark in the traditional Wimbledon tennis tournament.
After more than 4.5 hours of play, world number 200 August Holmgren surprisingly defeated Czech Tomas Machac 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 and 7-6.
Along the way, Holmgren survived three Czech match points. The 27-year-old Dane has never qualified for a Grand Slam tournament before.
The money he earns at Wimbledon corresponds to the total amount of prize money earned so far in his career.
“No matter what the situation is, I must play my game in the big moments. I can sometimes look like a huge idiot, like when I made three double faults in the tiebreak in the second set, and then I can look like a huge winner here at the end, where I made a backhand on the line,” Holmgren told DR upon the surprising victory.
In the third round, the 11th seeded Alex de Minaur awaits. That’s where the adventures end, right?
“I don’t see why it should stop here,” says Holmgren with a grin.
More expected is that Denmark’s strongest female tennis player has advanced to the third round.
Clara Tauson (22nd in the world) beat Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 7-6 after a convincing performance. Tauson has never been this far in Wimbledon before, as she is not a big fan of playing on the grass.
In the third round, the former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina awaits. A tough opponent for Tauson, who, however, after two victories, has great faith in her own abilities.
“I would have been happier to be in another part of the draw, but it will be a great match on a hopefully great court,” says Clara Tauson to DR.
