United Cup - Tennis duo Kerber/Zverev lose against France
Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev walked through the catacombs with their heads down. Despite a good performance, the German tennis duo had to leave the celebrations over their victory to their opponents this time.
Kerber and Zverev lost 6:7 (4:7), 6:2 and 10:12 to Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in a thrilling mixed set in Sydney, thus conceding the decisive defeat to France 1:2. As a result, the mixed German tennis team must fear for a place in the quarter-finals at the United in Australia.
If Kerber and Zverev had converted their own match point in the match tie-break, they would have been through to the knockout round. Now the Germans no longer have it in their own hands. France will play Italy on Wednesday and can secure group victory. However, the German team can still progress as one of the best group runners-up.
Kerber loses in the singles
After spending New Year's Eve with the team, Kerber and Zverev faced a much tougher test in the mixed doubles than in their first preliminary round match against Italy. After narrowly losing the first set, Zverev and Kerber secured the first breaks of the match at 1:0 and 4:1 and confidently equalized the set.
Kerber impressively withstood the pressure in her service games. In the match tie-break, however, the German pairing, who are also considering a joint mixed start at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, were unable to fend off the French pair's third match point. The duo had clearly held their own against Italy and thus celebrated the decisive 2:1 victory and Kerber's first success since the birth of Liana at the end of February 2023.
Against France, Kerber also missed out on a possible decision in favor of the German team in the singles with a 6:1, 2:6, 2:6 win against Garcia. In the second singles match after her 18-month maternity leave, Kerber (35) got off to an impressive start. However, it wasn't enough because the match then took a clear turn that she hadn't expected: Garcia improved considerably and was then too strong.
United Cup as preparation for Australian Open
To open the match, Zverev also won his second singles match of the new season in three sets and put the German team in the lead. The 26-year-old from Hamburg beat the French veteran Adrian Mannarino 4:6, 6:4, 6:3. In the middle of the second set, he threw his racket on the ground in dissatisfaction, but then steered the match in the right direction for him. He was the better player in the deciding set and served strongly. "An incredible match from Adrian," praised Zverev: "I kept fighting, fended off a few break points in the second set and that helped me."
Kerber had also lost her singles match against Italy despite a decent performance, while Zverev ensured the equalizer. The United Cup also serves as preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne. The first Grand Slam tournament of the year begins in mid-January.
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- Despite a strong performance, Germany's tandem of Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev fell short against France on New Year's Eve in the United Cup, losing 1-2.
- Alexander Zverev and Kerber faced tougher competition against France in the mixed doubles than they did against Italy, eventually losing due to a match point in the tie-break.
- France will secure the group victory if they defeat Italy on Wednesday, but Germany still has a chance to advance as one of the best group runners-up in the United Cup.
- Germany, represented by Kerber and Zverev, also played against Italy earlier in the competition and emerged victorious with a decisive 2:1 win.
- Kerber and Zverev are considering a mixed doubles start at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, and their performance in the United Cup could serve as a preview of their potential success.
- Kerber also faced Garcia in the singles match against France and lost 6-1, 2-6, 2-6, missing an opportunity to contribute to the German team's victory.
- The United Cup serves as valuable preparation for both Kerber and Zverev as they get ready for the Australian Open, which is set to begin in mid-January.
Source: www.stern.de
