TNT Sports
United Cup: Alexander Zverev overcomes Stefanos Tsitsipas in Germany win, Maria Sakkari beats Angelique Kerber
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Published 05/01/2024 at 12:08 GMT
Germany's Alexander Zverev produced one of his best displays in recent months to beat Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4 inside Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney and set up a doubles decider. Zverev did not get broken once on his serve and reduced his head-to-head deficit against the world No. 6 to 5-9. Earlier on Friday, Maria Sakkari produced an emphatic straight 6-0 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber.
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Video credit: SNTV
Alexander Zverev completed a 6-4 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in one hour and 37 minutes as Germany came from behind to beat Greece 2-1 at the United Cup.
Wins for Zverev in the singles and doubles alongside Laura Siegemund ensured Germany will play host nation Australia in the semi-finals on Saturday after Maria Sakkari won her match against Angelique Kerber earlier on Friday.
Sakkari and Petros Tsitsipas played Siegemund and Zverev in the doubles decider and it was the German pair who won the match 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 26 minutes.
Zverev had previously only won four of the pair's last 13 encounters against Stefanos, but it was the German who was victorious in Sydney on Friday.
"I had to come out aggressive because I knew Stefanos is one of the best aggressive players, if not the best aggressive player in the game," Zverev said after the singles match.
"If he is on the front foot it’s extremely difficult to play against him and that’s why I don’t have a great record against him.
"Germany needed that win and I’m happy to get it."
The German broke Tsitsipas' serve to take a 4-3 lead before closing out the first set in 50 minutes.
The second set was similarly tight, but Zverev broke in the ninth game - with only his second break point of the set - to go 5-4 up before producing a love hold of serve for the win.
Tsitsipas, who missed the singles match in Greece's first tie due to a back injury, made 24 unforced errors to Zverev's nine.
Earlier in the day, Sakkari beat former world No. 1 Kerber 6-0 6-3 to give Greece a 1-0 lead over Germany.
Sakkari produced her second career win over Kerber, who was playing in just her third singles match in 18 months, in 73 minutes of play.
Four-time major champion Kerber won just 46 per cent of points on her first serve and 27 on her second.
Sakkari got off to a flawless start, reeling off the first nine games of the match before Kerber was able to secure a single hold of serve. Nevertheless, Sakkari closed out the win by taking the next three games.
"I was pretty clinical in the first set and through 3-0 in the second; I was very solid from the baseline doing what I had to do," Sakkari said.
"I knew Angie was going to find a way to come back and that she wasn’t going to give up.
"After the first set I said there was no way the match will go super easy. I’m very happy to get the first point for my team."
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