German team plays for title
Kerber “saves Zverev’s ass” in the final
January 6, 2024, 6:10 p.m
At 2:19 a.m. local time, the German tennis team makes the final clear after the roles have been reversed. Angelique Kerber wins for the first time in her comeback, Alexander Zverev surprisingly loses. In the mixed doubles with Laura Siegemund, Zverev irons this out again.
In a dramatic night shift, the German tennis team reached the final of the United Cup. Olympic champions Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund won the decisive point for second place in the final mixed doubles with a 7:6 (7:2), 6:7 (2:7), 15:13 in the match tiebreak against Storm Hunter/Matthew Ebden :1 win against hosts Australia. The victory was not confirmed until Sunday night at 2:19 a.m. local time in Sydney. In the final of the mixed competition on Sunday, Germany will face the Polish team with world number one Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz. Poland clearly won 3-0 in the semifinals against France, who had defeated the German team 2-1 in the group stage.
“We still have the chance to win the tournament. We are very happy,” said Zverev, who could barely stand on his feet and expressed a special thank you to doubles partner Siegemund and also to the returnee Angelique Kerber: “First it was Angelique MVP, she saved my ass. Then Laura was the MVP.”
Zverev had missed an earlier decision with a 7:5, 3:6, 4:6 against Alex de Minaur. It was the first individual defeat in the young season for the Hamburg player. Since Kerber had put Germany in the lead at the start with a 4:6, 6:2, 7:6 (9:7) against Ajla Tomljanovic and won her first individual match after a year and a half of maternity leave, the decision was made like the quarter-final victory the day before mixed doubles.
“Great feeling” inspires Kerber
Kerber won a nerve-racking duel against Tomljanovic. “For me it’s the first individual victory since my comeback, it’s a really great feeling,” said the 35-year-old in an interview on the pitch: “I also tried to learn from the previous matches. Now here is such a tough duel Winning means a lot to me.”
Eight days before the start of the Australian Open, the woman from Kiel presented herself with strong nerves and also significantly improved her play. The clear two-set defeat against the Greek Maria Sakkari the day before did not unsettle Kerber, nor did the loss in the first set against Tomljanovic. Thanks to her strong forehand and good serves, she fought her way back into the match. In the tiebreak she fended off two match points and then converted her own first one after 2:34 hours.
Then the long wait began. After his work was done, Kerber sat down in the German box and kept his fingers crossed for Zverev. However, he surprisingly lost the second singles: after a good first set against Alex de Minaur, he gave up control and had to admit defeat 7:5, 3:6, 4:6. The mixed doubles at night had to bring the decision. “Sascha is a damn good competitor, a damn good player,” said de Minaur afterwards, “he was too good for me for a long time.”
However, the extension did not dampen Kerber’s mood. “I really enjoy playing here. For me it’s the first individual victory since my return. And that’s a really great feeling,” said the 35-year-old. She tried “to learn from the last three matches. And now to win such a tough fight means a lot to me.”