tennis
United Cup: Zverev fends off match points and equalizes
Alexander Zverev won his game against Hubert Hurkacz at the United Cup. photo
© Mark Baker/AP/dpa
After Angelique Kerber’s defeat, Alexander Zverev equalized with great morale in the final of the United Cup. The decision against Poland comes in the mixed doubles.
Angelique Kerber had previously been beaten by world number one Iga Swiatek 3:6, 0:6. The decision in Sydney will be in the mixed doubles.
For Zverev it was the fourth success in the team competition in the fifth individual. Only in the semi-finals on Saturday did the 26-year-old lose to Australian Alex de Minaur in three sets. Just one day later, Zverev showed great morale and won the next show of strength.
Against Hurkacz, Zverev was really annoyed after losing the first set and let his racket fly through the air. In the even game, the ninth in the world rankings fended off two break points from Zverev in the second round to make it 4-2. Hurkacz also destroyed three chances from Hamburg, which was leading 6:5, to equalize the set. At 6:4 in the tiebreak, the 26-year-old already looked like the winner, but Zverev fended off both match points and forced a decisive third set.
There, the seventh in the world rankings finally managed the only break of the game to make it 4:3. After three hours of play, Zverev rewarded himself for his enormous fighting spirit and converted his second match point.
Kerber had previously shown a strong performance against Swiatek for one set. The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner played powerfully and repeatedly put the world number one in trouble. However, Kerber was unable to take advantage of her chances and missed five break points in the first round alone. Swiatek took the first set after 48 minutes. The Pole, who was still unbeaten this year, was unstoppable after that. Swiatek got two quick breaks in the second section and after 1:10 hours she used her first match point.