BERLIN, Jan. 7 (dpa/EP) –
This Sunday, the German team won the United Cup, the mixed tennis tournament that was held in Perth and Sydney (Australia), after overcoming Poland (2-1) in the decisive doubles match and, Previously, Alexander Zverev kept the German team alive.
The Olympic champion saved two title points from Poland in the second set tie-break to win 6-7(3), 7-6(6) and 6-4 over Hubert Hurcacz. Thus, he equalized the tie after Iga Swiatek defeated Angelique Kerber (6-3, 6-0) in the first match.
Later, Zverev teamed up with Laura Siegemund to win the decisive mixed doubles (6-4, 5-7, 10-4) after midnight, with a backhand volley.
World number six Zverev showed extraordinary resilience after finishing the semi-final against hosts Australia on Sunday at 2.20am, in which he and Siegemund saved two match points in the mixed doubles, after Kerber had made the same in his victory against Ajla Tomljanovic.
Poland started well, with world number one Swiatek getting rid of Kerber, who was playing her first tournament since the summer of 2022 after a maternity leave in which she only won one match against Tomljanovic.
Zverev, who only suffered one defeat in this tournament – against Australian Alex de Minaur – saved two championship points at 6-4 down in sudden death in the second set against Hurcacz.
In the final, Zverev and Siegemund came back from 3-0 down in the second set before suffering a new break that took them to the final tie-break. However, Swiatek and Hurcacz were never in a position to turn the score around.