The Chinese player was supposed to meet Germany with her team in the preliminary round, but she would rather prepare for the Australian Open in training.
The German tennis team with Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegmund will not face Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen at the United Cup in Australia (starting December 27), as previously assumed.
The Chinese player has withdrawn from the mixed tournament in Perth and Sydney. This significantly weakens her team, and Gao Xinyu, ranked 175th in the world, could be used in the singles for Zheng.
Zverev and Siegemund won the United Cup last year together with the now retired Angelique Kerber. This time, the duo, which could be joined by doubles specialist Tim Pütz, will face China (December 30) and Brazil (December 29).
The winners and the two best runners-up from the six groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Zverev’s father is the German team captain
The United Cup is considered preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne (starting January 12).
Each game will feature a men’s and a women’s singles, as well as a mixed. Zverev and Siegemund are seeded, but the German team also includes Daniel Masur, Lena Papadakis and Vivian Heisen, in addition to Pütz. Zverev’s father, Alexander senior, is the team captain.
Zheng prefers to get the momentum she needs for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in training, she wrote on Instagram. She reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in early 2024.
