Spoiler:
Alexander Zverev picked an opportune moment to record his second competitive win in eight months, defeating Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-1 to draw Germany level with Switzerland in their Davis Cup Qualifier in Trier.
Zverev, whose return to competitive action after ankle ligament surgery yielded three defeats from four matches in Australia at the turn of the month, looked much more like his old self in a commanding victory over the three-time Grand Slam champion.
The world No. 14 saw off Wawrinka in an hour and 36 minutes to cancel out Marc-Andrea Huesler’s battling 2-6 6-2 6-4 triumph over Oscar Otte earlier in the day.
“I think it’s important to go into tomorrow’s ties with a 1-1 [scoreline],” said Zverev. “Obviously I’m very happy with my game. I think that was the best match since my injury. It’s going in a positive way, and I hope I can continue progressing.”
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A much-anticipated clash pitted the returning Zverev against Wawrinka – a three-time Grand Slam and 2014 Davis Cup champion – and the first set more than matched the billing.
An absorbing opening set was peppered with lengthy baseline exchanges. The German broke first for a 3-1 lead and, although Wawrinka hustled his way back into proceedings, the pressure eventually told in the 10th game as the Swiss handed over a second break of serve, and with it the opening set, when he closed a 17-shot rally by flinging a forehand into the tramlines.
Wawrinka had lost all four of his previous meetings with Zverev and was unable to break that duck as the German broke twice for a 3-1, then 5-1 lead in the second set, before cooly serving out the match.
“I think I played a lot more aggressive and maybe Stan’s spirit went down a little bit, but in the end I picked up my level and I’m very happy with that,” said Zverev.
The Germans will look to Andrea Mies and Tim Puetz on Saturday to give them an all-important 2-1 advantage ahead of the reverse singles later in the day.
Zverev, whose return to competitive action after ankle ligament surgery yielded three defeats from four matches in Australia at the turn of the month, looked much more like his old self in a commanding victory over the three-time Grand Slam champion.
The world No. 14 saw off Wawrinka in an hour and 36 minutes to cancel out Marc-Andrea Huesler’s battling 2-6 6-2 6-4 triumph over Oscar Otte earlier in the day.
“I think it’s important to go into tomorrow’s ties with a 1-1 [scoreline],” said Zverev. “Obviously I’m very happy with my game. I think that was the best match since my injury. It’s going in a positive way, and I hope I can continue progressing.”
The Official App Of Tennis | Download ATP WTA Live App
A much-anticipated clash pitted the returning Zverev against Wawrinka – a three-time Grand Slam and 2014 Davis Cup champion – and the first set more than matched the billing.
An absorbing opening set was peppered with lengthy baseline exchanges. The German broke first for a 3-1 lead and, although Wawrinka hustled his way back into proceedings, the pressure eventually told in the 10th game as the Swiss handed over a second break of serve, and with it the opening set, when he closed a 17-shot rally by flinging a forehand into the tramlines.
Wawrinka had lost all four of his previous meetings with Zverev and was unable to break that duck as the German broke twice for a 3-1, then 5-1 lead in the second set, before cooly serving out the match.
“I think I played a lot more aggressive and maybe Stan’s spirit went down a little bit, but in the end I picked up my level and I’m very happy with that,” said Zverev.
The Germans will look to Andrea Mies and Tim Puetz on Saturday to give them an all-important 2-1 advantage ahead of the reverse singles later in the day.
