It was a very tight affair, of that there can be no doubt but eventually, in what proved to be the longest Match tie-break of the United Cup, Germany squeezed past the hosts, Australia 2-1 to reach the final where they will face Poland, who secured their place earlier in the day.
I think we can just be happy to be in the final, we really deserve it Laura Siegemund
Angelique Kerber got the ball rolling for Germany but Alexander Zverev, couldn’t clinch it in the second singles so again, a mixed doubles was required in Sydney, to decide the second finalists.
Alex de Minaur kept Aussie hopes alive after Kerber had overcome Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6 6-2 7-6(7) in the opening rubber (in what was the German’s first win as a mother) by defeating Zverev 5-7 6-3 6-4 after two-hours and 40-minute to force the semi into a mixed doubles decider.
There Zverev teamed up with Laura Siegemund and after two hours and 19-minutes finally secured the winning point against Matthew Ebden and Storm Hunter on a 28-point Match tiebreak at 2-15 am Sunday morning local time, 7-6(2) 6-7(2) 15-13!
“Special thanks to Laura, I think she was the MVP today. Actually, Angie was the MVP today because she saved my a**, so that was very nice,” Zverev said of Kerber for providing the opening point.
“After the singles match it was obviously disappointing, but I thought the level of the match was extremely high. So yes, you’re disappointed, but we were still in the tie, and we still had a chance to win it and I’m happy that we did that today.”
The Germans saved two match points in the Match tie-break, with Zverev hitting a forehand winner at 9-10 and Siegemund curling a stunning lob at 11-12.
There were many momentum shifts; Germany led by a set and a break, let slip their advantage and then battled through in that closely fought Match tie-break.
“It’s just very emotional. It’s a team competition and it’s just so nice to have the support,” Siegemund said. “They played amazing singles today and all respect to Sascha, he had a really tough singles and then to come out 25 minutes later to play a really intense mixed — all respect. I think he carried this match today. I think we can just be happy to be in the final, we really deserve it.”
Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund succeed in the mixed doubles
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
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