tennis
Kerber and Zverev achieve their opening victory in the United Cup
Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev won the doubles against Italy. photo
© Rick Rycroft/AP/dpa
Angelique Kerber celebrated her first sense of success alongside Alexander Zverev on her comeback after an 18-month maternity leave. At the start of the United Cup in Sydney, the tennis duo ensured the German team beat Italy 2-1 with a victory in the final mixed doubles.
Kerber and Zverev prevailed 6:3, 6:0 against Angelica Moratelli and Lorenzo Sonego, winning the last twelve games in a row.
Kerber (35) had previously been beaten by the Italian Jasmine Paolini (27) 4:6, 5:7 in her first official singles match since the birth of daughter Liana at the end of February. Olympic champion Zverev (26) then equalized against Sonego 6:7 (5:7), 6:3, 6:4. The German selection will face France in the second group game at the United Cup on Monday.
The mixed team competition is being played in preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, starting in two weeks.