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Defending champions make fast start in Perth
December 29, 2024
Laura Siegemund upsets Beatriz Haddad Maia to give Germany an early lead over Brazil in Perth.
2024 Getty Images
Laura Siegemund upsets Beatriz Haddad Maia to give Germany an early lead over Brazil in Perth.
By ATP/WTA Staff
Alexander Zverev produced a sharp opening performance Sunday to steer Germany to victory over Brazil in the United Cup in Perth, capitalising on teammate Laura Siegemund's crucial upset win earlier in the day.

World No. 2 Zverev claimed immediate breaks in both sets to defeat Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-4 in just one hour and 17 minutes, in contrast to Siegemund's gruelling three-set win over Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first match of the day.

The 23-time ATP Tour title winner served 11 aces and dropped just three points on his first serve (29/32) according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"I'm very happy to be back playing for Team Germany again," Zverev said. "Perth is one of my favourite cities in Australia... and I'm enjoying my time on the court.

"I think this is the first time we've been up 2-0 in a tie. Last year we were playing a deciding match every single time so it's nice to know that we've got this one in the bag already."

Zverev played a maximum 10 matches at last year's United Cup as he carried the Germans to the title, but hinted before this year's event that he may defer doubles duty to recent Nitto ATP Finals doubles champion Tim Puetz. The 27-year-old improved to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Monteiro, who is No. 109 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Earlier in the day, Siegemund outlasted Haddad Maia 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 to take a 1-0 lead in their Group E tie at the RAC Arena.

World No.80 Siegemund pulled off the topsy-turvy victory after two hours and 33 minutes, in Germany’s first match of the event. It was an upset on paper, but Siegemund has had 17th-ranked Haddad Maia’s number in the past, and the German now leads their head-to-head 4-1 overall.

"It’s the first match of the year against such a great player, it’s not easy," Siegemund said. "So I have to, out of the pocket, pull my best game basically, and I just tried to focus on that and stay cool in the [big] moments."

"The match, today, it wasn't perfect. For nobody it is, at the beginning of the year. But I tried to stay in it, I tried to stay positive, and hopefully that's giving me some confidence for the next matches."

Currently the top-ranked German woman in both singles and doubles in the PIF Rankings, former Top 30 singles player Siegemund notched the 20th Top 20 win of her career by toppling Haddad Maia.

After falling behind an early break at 3-1 in the opening set, the crafty veteran Siegemund used her bevy of passing shots and winning volleys to reel off five consecutive games and steal the one-set lead.

Haddad Maia swept through the second set, but deft, well-placed returns helped Siegemund stay on the front foot in the third set. Coming out on top in all-court rallies with lobs and drop shots, Siegemund earned the decisive break for 5-4, then served out the match at love.

The Germans won four of five ties en route to last year’s title, ultimately beating Poland in the final after Zverev saved two championship points in his singles against Hubert Hurkacz.

Germany completed a 3-0 sweep of the tie when Siegemund teamed with Puetz to defeat Rafael Matos and Carolina Alves 7-6(8), 6-4 in the mixed doubles rubber.

Germany defeat China 2-1 to top Group E, face Kazakhstan in QFs
December 30, 2024
Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund guide Germany to the quarter-finals at the United Cup in Perth.
Will Russell
Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund guide Germany to the quarter-finals at the United Cup in Perth.
By ATP/WTA Staff
Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund continued their perfect United Cup record together Monday, securing Germany’s status as Group E winners.

The duo notched a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over Zhang Zhizhen and Zhang Shuai in the deciding mixed doubles rubber against China, sealing a 2-1 win in favour of the defending champions. Zverev and Siegemund had won each of the four previous mixed doubles rubbers they contested at the event, and ensured they kept a clean slate with a rock-solid performance, booking a quarter-final clash with Kazakhstan.

“Triple ZZZ is a very funny guy, we had a great singles and great mixed doubles match with Laura,” said Zverev. “I’m happy that we’re in the quarter-finals and, actually, I’m happy that China are in the quarter-finals too. Congratulations to the Chinese team.”

“It was a really great match,” Siegemund added. “When you play for the first time after a while, you never really know what’s going to happen, and I think it was a great performance.”

Earlier, Zverev shook off a sluggish start to give Germany an initial 1-0 lead in the tie, rallying to a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Zhang Zhizhen. Gao Xinyu then fought back for China with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 upset of Siegemund, levelling the tie at 1-1. With her singles win, Gao ensured China finished second in Group E, facing the winner of Group A in the quarter-finals.

“I didn’t start off well… I was missing more shots from my backhand side, which is normally the most stable,” said Zverev. “He was also playing extremely well, so aggressive. He was not letting me into the match or find my rhythm.

“Then I pushed some balls back in the second set to get some rhythm from the baseline. Then I found my rhythm and I’m happy with my performance in the second and third sets.”




In the men’s singles, Zhang had picked up where he left off from his 54-minute clinic against Thiago Monteiro on Friday with a promising start to the winner-takes-all tie. Zverev’s standout quality has been his serving in recent times, but it was thoroughly tested in the opening set against Zhang. The Chinese star broke Zverev on two occasions, and was imperious behind his own, winning 93 per cent (13/14) of first deliveries, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Zhang, who reached his maiden ATP Tour final in Hangzhou in September, struck cleanly from both wings from the beginning of the match. Yet he was unable to withstand 23-time titlist Zverev once he grew into the encounter and found his range from the baseline. Zverev, significantly aided by the 22 unforced errors that Zhang fired, asserted his dominance with a perfect second-set score.

After a stark drop in intensity in the second set, Zhang steadied himself through the first four games of the decider. But after another lapse in the sixth, Zverev raced away with the final four games to improve to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Gao's victory continues a dream week for the World No.175, who has replaced the absent Zheng Qinwen in singles. Prior to the United Cup, a professional career that started in 2014 had seen the 27-year-old notch just one tour-level win, in Hua Hin last September, and one defeat of a Top 100 player, over Veronica Cepede Royg in 2017 Beijing qualifying.

Now, including an opening career-best win over Beatriz Haddad Maia, Gao has posted two more of each. Though she had been beset by a leg injury during the 3-hour, 22-minute marathon against Haddad Maia, Gao emerged against Siegemund both moving and swinging freely. By contrast, Siegemund's timing and touch were both off in the first set, during which she committed 14 unforced errors to Gao's seven.

Siegemund raised her level substantially in the second set, going after her forehand and showing off some delightful finesse: a sharply angled half-volley, a pinpoint drop shot-lob combination. She leapt out to a 4-0 lead, and despite Gao responding by retrieving both breaks in succession, managed to hold on to close out the set.

But in the decider, Gao picked up where she left off in the first set, and found her own scorching forehand winner to gain the 4-0 double break. Siegemund clung on valiantly, but Gao stayed clutch, and on match point forced the error from Siegemund with another hefty off forehand.

Masur to step in for the World No. 2
January 01, 2025
Alexander Zverev is trying to lead Germany to a second United Cup title.
Will Russell/Getty Images
Alexander Zverev is trying to lead Germany to a second United Cup title.
By ATP Staff
Alexander Zverev will not compete in defending champion Germany's United Cup quarter-final against Kazakhstan due to a biceps strain.

The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will be replaced in singles by Daniel Masur. The World No. 254 will face Alexander Shevchenko in the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Zverev won both of his singles matches in Group E action, defeating Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-4 and Zhang Zhizhen 2-6, 6-0, 6-2. The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion played twice on Tuesday against China, also partnering Laura Siegemund to a mixed doubles victory.


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Masur has climbed as high as World No. 176 and is a two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion. The German earned his lone tour-level win in 2018 at Hamburg, where he defeated Maximilian Marterer before falling to Diego Schwartzman.

Elena Rybakina defeated Siegemund 6-3, 6-1 in the first match of the Germany-Kazakhstan quarter-final tie.