In a commanding display on the singles and doubles court, Alexander Zverev has propelled Germany into the semi-finals of the United Cup. The World No. 7 showcased his skills by securing a straight-sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, leveling the tie with Greece.
Zverev then teamed up with Laura Siegemund to claim a decisive mixed doubles victory of 6-3, 6-3 against Petros Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. The German duo will now face host nation Australia in the semi-finals.
During the tournament, Zverev has recorded an impressive five wins out of six matches, with his only loss coming in a closely contested match tie-break against Angelique Kerber in Germany's defeat to France during the group stage.
Siegemund, who had been on the bench until the quarter-finals, capitalized on her first opportunity to play and demonstrated her doubles expertise. Ranked World No. 5 in doubles and with 14 doubles titles, including the 2020 US Open, she provided the perfect complement to Zverev's powerful game.
Reflecting on the team's journey, Zverev expressed his belief that Germany deserved to be in the quarter-finals despite not winning their group, as they advanced with the best record among the non-group winners. Siegemund acknowledged the weight on their shoulders, emphasizing their determination to carry the team forward to the semi-finals.
In the singles match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Zverev faced a challenge after initially building a commanding lead. However, he regained his composure and sealed the victory with a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline, leveling the tie after Sakkari's dominant 6-0, 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber.
Zverev's win against Tsitsipas narrowed their head-to-head record to 5-9, and he remained undefeated in this year's United Cup with previous come-from-behind wins against Lorenzo Sonego and Adrian Mannarino during the group stage.
Despite some tense moments, Zverev displayed aggressive play against Tsitsipas, knowing the Greek player's prowess as one of the best aggressive players in the game. Tsitsipas put up a valiant fight but struggled with unforced errors, while Zverev kept his error count low.
In the earlier singles match, Maria Sakkari overwhelmed former World No. 1 Angelique Kerber with a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory, giving Greece a 1-0 lead against Germany. Sakkari exhibited clinical play, serving efficiently and breaking Kerber at will. Kerber, playing just her third singles match in 18 months, struggled to find her rhythm and fell short in crucial moments.
Sakkari's strong performance left little room for Kerber to mount a comeback, as the Greek player maintained her composure and closed out the match convincingly. Sakkari highlighted her satisfaction in securing the first point for her team and praised Kerber's resilience.
With their impressive quarter-final victories, both Zverev and Sakkari remain unbeaten in the United Cup so far this year, showcasing their exceptional skills and determination.
