By John Bagratuni, dpa I Sunday, Jan. 06, 2024
SYDNEY – Germany rallied to win the United Cup 2-1 over top seeds Poland on Sunday in Sydney, after another extraordinary escape act, this time from Alexander Zverev.
The Olympic champion saved two Polish championship points in a second-set tie-break for a 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 triumph against Hubert Hurcacz, which levelled the tie at 1-1 after Iga Swiatek beat Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-0 in the opening rubber.
Zverev then teamed up with Laura Siegemund to win the deciding mixed doubles, 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 well after midnight, wrapping up matters with a backhand volley.
World number six Zverev showed extraordinary stamina after a 2.20am Sunday finish of their semi-final against hosts Australia, where he and Siegemund saved two match points in the mixed doubles, after Kerber had done the same in her win again Ajla Tomljanovic.
Germany had only made the knock-out stages of the season-opening event as a group runner-up by virtue of their games percentage.
“It’s been absolutely amazing. It’s been a pleasure and it’s been absolutely so much fun for everybody to be part of this team, especially for me. I really thank you guys for being part of this,” Zverev said at the trophy ceremony.
Three-time grand slam winner Kerber spoke about “a perfect comeback” after giving birth to a daughter in February, although she won only one match, against Tomljanovic.
“It feels great to be on court again. I missed this energy and these emotions over the last 18 months,” she said.
Poland started well with world number one Swiatek making short work of formerly top ranked Kerber, who was playing her first tournament since the summer of 2022.
Zverev meanwhile suffered only one defeat, against Australian Alex de Minaur, but he was almost down and out against Hurkacz when the Pole led by a set and had two championship points at 6-4 in the tiebreak.
But Zverev battled back, saving one match point with a passing shot that just went in, to force a third set which he won thanks to one break to set up the dramatic mixed doubles finale.
“I have absolutely no idea [how I won]. Also I saved a match point hitting a passing shot this much on the line, so this is how tennis goes sometimes. You win and lose by millimetres and today I was lucky enough in a way,” Zverev said.
In the final rubber, Zverev and Siegemund rallied from 3-0 down in the second set before being broken again late which led to the concluding match tie-break.
But Swiatek and Hurcacz were never in a position to complete a turnaround and had to settle for second.
“It was really tight. Last year we made it to the semi-finals, this year to the final so hopefully the next step is going to be winning. For sure we’re making progress,” Swiatek said.
