tennis
Zverev outstanding: German team wins United Cup
The German team poses with the trophy after defeating the Polish team. photo
© Mark Baker/AP/dpa
The Australian Open can come! Alexander Zverev is already in top form. The Olympic champion leads the German tennis team to the title at the United Cup.
After the triumph at the United Cup, Laura Siegemund jumped the outstanding one Alexander Zverev in his arms, and a little later the entire German tennis team was dancing exuberantly in a circle.
Led by Olympic champion Zverev, Germany won the team competition in Sydney and whetted the appetite for a successful year of tennis a week before the start of the Australian Open. In the final, Zverev and Co. beat Poland 2-1.
Zverev first defeated Hubert Hurkacz in three hours and after defending two match points 6:7 (3:7), 7:6 (8:6), 6:4 and thus made it 1:1. Afterwards, alongside doubles specialist Siegemund, he defeated the Polish duo Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek in the match tiebreak 6:4, 5:7, 10:4 and thus got the decisive second point. At the start, Angelique Kerber lost against Swiatek 3:6, 0:6.
Zverev won four of his five singles
“It was very special to be part of this team. I’m very proud that we won this thing,” said Zverev at the award ceremony in the Ken Rosewall Arena. For Kerber it was a “perfect comeback” after her maternity break. “It feels great to be back on the pitch,” said Kerber. “I’ve missed this energy and these emotions over the past 18 months.”
Zverev won four of his five individual matches in the team competition. The 26-year-old only had to admit defeat to the Australian Alex de Minaur in three sets in the semifinals. Just one day later, Zverev showed great morale and won the next show of strength against Hurkacz.
In the decisive mixed doubles, the Olympic champion also had to go the full distance alongside Siegemund. After 1:44 hours, the German duo converted their first match point – then there was a celebration. “The last few nights it was always very late because of the late end of the games. But today it’s going to be really late,” said Kerber coach Torben Beltz, who coached the German team.
Zverev fended off two match points
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 and thus the Polish team already looked like the winner, but Zverev fended off both match points outstandingly 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.
Just a little later, Zverev was back on the pitch with Siegemund. Although he was almost at the end of his strength, the 26-year-old showed another strong performance and scored the decisive point.
“It’s a really great feeling”
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.
Kerber can still travel to Melbourne with a lot of confidence, where the Australian Open begins next Sunday. The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner won a singles match for the first time after returning from a year and a half maternity leave. In the semi-final against Australia, Kerber won a nerve-wracking duel with Ajla Tomljanovic 4:6, 6:2, 7:6 (9:7). “For me it’s the first individual victory since my comeback, it’s a really great feeling,” said Kerber afterwards.