Wimbledon 2026: Zverev sees off Lehecka to reach first Wimbledon quarter-final

Alexander Zverev's Wimbledon round-of-16 match against Jiri Lehecka spread across two days, but the German eventually found his way through to a first quarter-final in SW19.

Zverev had been two sets up when the Wimbledon curfew interrupted the tie, but he was made to work hard on Tuesday to earn his 6-4 7-5 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in just under three and a half hours.

The number two seed held off three break points in his first service game and had to bide his time in the first set, but eventually got the edge with a three-game winning streak.

Lehecka held his nerve early in the second set, fending off two break points before forcing two of his own shortly after, but he could not convert either.

And just like in the first set, Zverev reeled off three straight games once again to put himself on the brink of the match.

Play was halted with the third set level at 3-3, but when the match resumed on Tuesday, Lehecka came out of the blocks quickly by winning the next three games – without dropping a point on serve – to force a fourth.

It stayed tight, with neither player giving anything up on serve as they went all the way to a tie-break.

Zverev saw his first two match points go begging, the second of which was due to a double fault, but he quickly shook off the nerves to get over the line and set up a meeting with Taylor Fritz.

Zverev ends Wimbledon hoodoo

Zverev ended his long wait for a first major title at the French Open, and he is now breaking new ground at Wimbledon, having never advanced past the last 16 before.

Three times before 2026, he had fallen at this hurdle, having reached the final at each of the other three majors, but he is high on confidence at the All England Club.

In fact, he has become the fourth German in the Open Era to reach the last eight of the men's singles at all four majors after Boris Becker, Michael Stich and Tommy Haas.

Zverev is also the only player to reach the men's singles quarter-final at each of the three grand slam events so far this season, further highlighting his consistency.

Lehecka gave Zverev a much tougher test on Tuesday, but the German overcame it and will now be aiming to snap a seven-match losing streak against Fritz.