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 into the arms of the outstanding Alexander Zverev, a little later the entire German tennis team danced in a circle.
Led by Olympic champion Zverev, Germany won the team competition in Sydney and whetted the appetite for a successful tennis year one week before the start of the Australian Open. Zverev and Co. beat Poland 2:1 in the final.
Zverev first defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6:7 (3:7), 7:6 (8:6), 6:4 in three hours and after fending off two match points to level the score at 1:1. He then defeated the Polish duo Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 in a match tie-break alongside doubles specialist Siegemund to clinch the decisive second point. Angelique Kerber had lost 3:6, 0:6 to Swiatek in the opener
Zverev won four of his five singles matches
“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 leave. “It feels great to be back on the court,” said Kerber. “I’ve missed this energy and these emotions for the past 18 months. “
Zverev won four of his five singles matches in the team competition. The 26-year-old only had to concede defeat to Australian Alex de Minaur in three sets in the semi-finals. Just one day later, Zverev showed great morale and won the next tour de force against Hurkacz.
The Olympic champion then also had to go the full distance in the decisive mixed set alongside Siegemund. After 1:44 hours, however, the German duo converted their first match point – and then they celebrated. “It’s always been very late the last few nights because of the late end to the matches. But tonight it will be really late,” said Kerber coach Torben Beltz, who was coaching the German team.
Zverev fended off two match points
Zverev was really annoyed against Hurkacz after losing the first set and sent his racket flying through the air. In the evenly-balanced match, the world number nine fended off two break points from Zverev in the second set to make it 4:2. Hurkacz also thwarted three chances for the Hamburg player, who was leading 6:5, to equalize the set. At 6:4 in the tie-break, the 26-year-old and thus the Polish team already looked like the winners, but Zverev fended off both match points brilliantly and forced a decisive third set.
There, the world number seven finally managed the only break of the match to make it 4:3. After three hours of play, Zverev was rewarded for his enormous fighting spirit and converted his second match point.
Only a short time later, Zverev was back on court with Siegemund. Although almost at the end of his tether, the 26-year-old put in another strong performance and converted the decisive point to crown the match
“It’s a really great feeling “
Kerber had previously put in a strong performance against Swiatek for one set. The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner played powerfully and repeatedly put the world number one under pressure. However, Kerber was unable to take her chances and missed five break points in the first set alone. Swiatek took the first set after 48 minutes. The Polish player, who is still unbeaten this year, was then unstoppable. Swiatek made two quick breaks in the second set and after 1:10 hours she converted her first match point
Kerber can nevertheless travel to Melbourne, where the Australian Open begins next Sunday, with plenty of confidence. The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner won her first singles match since returning from a one-and-a-half-year 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). “It’s the first singles win for me since my comeback, it’s a really great feeling,” said Kerber afterwards.
