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Alexander Zverev has levelled the Group C tie for Germany against Great Britain on Sunday to ensure a doubles decider on Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
The World No. 3 saved one set point in the first set to beat No. 12-ranked Briton Cameron Norrie 7-6(2), 6-1 in 87 minutes. Earlier in the tie, Daniel Evans dominated Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-1, 6-2 in 69 minutes.
Great Britain’s Jamie Murray and Evans will now challenge Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Zverev to decide the tie winner.
Having been in control on serve, Zverev dropped his first-serve percentage at 4-5 in the first set to gift Norrie a set point at 30/40. Zverev saved it with a solid first delivery and approach winner, then applied pressure to force Norrie to save a break point in the next game. The German, who beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 2-ranked Daniil Medvedev in his final two matches of the 2021 season for the Nitto ATP Finals crown, raised his game in the tie-break that ended with a Norrie backhand into the net.
After 54 minutes of high-quality tennis, Norrie came close to breaking Zverev in the first game of the second set. But, unable to convert, Zverev responded to secure service breaks in the fourth and sixth games. He has now won 13 of his past 15 matches. “The first match of the year is never going to be the best match of you’re life,” said Zverev. “But I’m pretty happy as I did my job. We’re here to try and win.”
Zverev, Struff Combine To Give Germany Victory Over USA
Spoiler:
Alexander Zverev produced another commanding performance at ATP Cup Tuesday to clinch Germany’s victory over the United States at Sydney Olympic Park.
After dropping just seven games to World No. 12 Cameron Norrie in his opening match Sunday, the World No. 3 broke Taylor Fritz early in both sets en route to a 6-4, 6-4 victory after finally holding serve in a tense final game.
“Until the last game it was a good level for my second match of year,” Zverev said. “It was very intense and hard hitting. The most important thing is that Team Germany won and we have given ourselves the best chance of reaching the semis.”
Germany’s win could potentially create an intriguing semi-final battle in Group C, in which all four teams (Germany, USA, Canada and Great Britain) will be locked on 1-1 records if Canada defeats Great Britain tonight on Ken Rosewall Arena.
Zverev’s form is in stark contrast to his first two ATP Cup appearances, in which he won just one of six singles matches. But the 24-year-old has brought into the new season his outstanding 2021 form, which saw him win a tour-leading six titles, including Olympic gold and his second Nitto ATP Finals title.
World No. 3 enjoys spending time by the lakes in Hamburg, Germany
Alexander Zverev finished his 2021 season in style by winning his second Nitto ATP Finals crown in Turin and the World No. 3 has continued his momentum into the new year, earning ATP Cup victories against Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz for Team Germany this week in Sydney.
Ahead of his final Group C match at the 16-team event, the 24-year-old caught up with ATPTour.com to discuss his friendship with teammate Kevin Krawietz, the role of Boris Becker and Michael Stich on his development and more.
If you could take one shot from any member of your team and add it to your game what would it be?
Maybe I would take someone’s volleys. Kevin’s volleys maybe. They’re just better than mine, in general (laughs).
Who on the team would most likely be late for practice?
Me. Easily. If it’s important, 100 per cent . If it’s not important, maybe 10 per cent.
What are three things you love about Germany?
Firstly, it’s the country I grew up in and it’s the country that raised me. It’s my home. That’s the first thing I love about Germany. Also German football, and I think the German nature is quite spectacular as well. I’m a Hamburg guy, so for me the lakes and rivers in Hamburg [are the best].
What’s your favourite football team in Germany?
I have two. Hamburg and Bayern Munich.
Tell me a little bit about the personalities on the team.
I think Yannick [Hanfmann] is maybe the one who is quietest out of all of us. He’s a very good guy, he’s somebody that gets along with everybody well, one of the nicest guys on Tour. Kevin [Krawietz] is the one that I’m probably best friends with, because we have quite a funny and similar personality. We joke around quite a lot and do a lot of stupid things.
Tim [Puetz] is a little bit ‘I know better’ on every subject, but he is also probably the smartest one out of all of us. He did go to college, so in that regard he’s very educated. But he also always has to have the last word on everything. And Struffi… Struffi is just in general a nice guy. I think nobody on Tour has anything bad to say about Struffi. You can’t say anything bad about him.
What’s your favourite Kevin mannerism?
His humour. His humour is not for everyone, I would say!
What do you like about the team competition and being with the guys?
Team competitions in tennis are very rare. I think it’s quite a lot of fun to be around those guys and to have the same goal as them, be in the same group and try to achieve the same things.
Which German player did you look up to the most, and why?
I think the obvious answer would be Boris Becker, and maybe Michael Stich, too. Michael Stich helped me a lot at the beginning of my career, with wild cards in Hamburg, so he helped me a little bit to break through. But in Germany, I think Boris, and Steffi Graf as well, were the two players who were always at the top of everything.
What do you remember about your first club in Germany?
It’s still the same club that I would be in now. It’s in Hamburg. It’s the club where I basically started playing tennis, and my whole life was spent there. I went back there after the Olympics with the gold medal. It’s quite special there. It’s called UHC. Uhlenhorster Hockey-Club. So it’s actually a massive hockey club. We won the Champions League a few times in Europe. It’s a bigger hockey club than tennis club, but it also has tennis.
What is your favourite German food?
It’s not as easy as if you were to ask Italians or someone like that. But I like the German sausages. I’m a big fan of the sausages.
What do you like about the ATP Cup in general?
To start off the year with a team competition is great, to have the team atmosphere which we don’t have a lot in tennis is always quite fun.