Lloyd Harris aims for Wimbledon redemption after early French Open exit

South Africa’s top-ranked tennis player, Lloyd Harris will be hoping to make it past the first round at Wimbledon, after falling at the first hurdle at the recent French Open.

The SA tennis ace, whose promising career has been blighted by injury, will face Zizou Bergs of Belgium in Monday’s first round.

Harris, who was the only South African in the men’s singles draw of the French Open, as he is at Wimbledon, was beaten 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round by No15 seed Andrey Rublev at Roland Garros.

Zizou is also ranked higher than him at Wimbledon, but does not have the pedigree of the South African, who reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2021.

The former world No 31 is making his way back up the rankings after an extended absence due to injury. Wrist surgery in 2022 was followed by back surgery late last year, which derailed his progress.

“It’s been tough, but for me it’s all about being healthy. Every match I get being injury free is a mega win for me,” he told rolandgarros.com in the build-up to the clay court Grand Slam.

Featuring in back-to-back Grand Slam main draws will be regarded as steady progress by the 28-year-old Capetonian.

Harris reached the second round at Wimbledon last year, where he pushed rising US star Ben Shelton before losing in five sets.

If he can come close to replicating that form, he can book a place in the second round again.

Zizou will also fancy his chances of progressing, after reaching the final of the tour-level Libema Open on grass in the Netherlands recently.