Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund beat Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek 6-4 5-7 10-4 in the mixed doubles match to seal a 2-1 win for Germany over Poland inside the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
World number 1 Swiatek cruised past Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-0 to give Poland a 1-0 lead in the opening women’s singles match.
Swiatek fended off two break points to hold serve for 3-2. The Polish player saved three more break points on her serve before breaking serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead. She served out the set 6-3. Swiatek finished the first set with 21 winners to 14 unforced errors.
Swiatek reeled off nine consecutive games from 3-3 to close out the match after 70 minutes.
In their most recent head-to-head at Indian Wells 2022 Swiatek came back from one set down to beat Kerber 4-6 6-2 6-3.
Kerber beat Ajla Tomljanovic to help Germany beat Australia on Saturday night at 2.20 am.
“I felt like she was really picking the right spots to play and she surprised me sometimes with her decision-making and choices. I knew she could play like that but I did not have time to get into the rhythm because she was really aiming sometimes these balls inside out. With the ball change, I felt like my game could be more dynamic and I could push Angelique more after 4-3”, said Kerber.
In the men’s singles match Zverev saved two match points to beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 forcing the tie to the mixed doubles match.
Hurkacz hit 19 aces and saved the first six break points he faced. Zverev did not face a break point. The German player fended off one match point at 4-6 in the tie-break of the second set with a forehand passing shot. Hurkacz did not convert another match point when he missed a crosscourt backhand wide.
“I was exhausted in the middle of the second set I was exhausted and in the third set I was hanging on a lot of the time and somehow got the break. Obviously mentally and physically it was extremely because playing three days in a row in singles and in mixed doubles matches is tough. I am happy that we are in this position now, We have one more match to play to decide it all”, said Zverev.
Zverev earned the only break point at 3-3 in the third set and held his next service games to win the match forcing the final to the decisive mixed doubles match.
Zverev came into the match after a hard-fought win over Alex De Minaur in the men’s singles match and played three sets in the mixed doubles, where he teamed up with Laura Siegemund in their 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (2-7) 15-13 win over Matthew Ebden and Storm Hunter.
Zverev and Siegemund beat Swiatek and Hurkacz 6-4 5-7 10-4 to clinch the United Cup title for Germany. Swiatek and Hurkacz lost their first mixed doubles match after four straight-set wins as a team.
Siegemund and Zverev earned an early break in the third game of the first set. Swiatek and Hurkacz earned a break-back point in the fourth game. Siegemund and Zverev missed out on two double break points, but they served out the first game in the 10th game.
Swiatek and Hurkacz earned their first break of the match to open up a 3-0 lead. Siegemund and Zverev broke back in the fifth game, but Swiatek and Hurkacz broke again in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead. The Polish team missed out on a set point in the ninth game and two more set points on Siegemund and Zverev’s serve in the 10th game.
Hurkacz and Swiatek served out the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead before breaking serve in the 12th game to close out the second set 7-5.
Siegemund and Zverev went up a 3-0 lead in the match tie-break and raced out to a 6-1 lead. They converted their first match point to seal the title for Germany.
“It’s absolutely amazing. It’s been a pleasure and it’s absolutely so much fun for everybody to be part of this team, especially for me. I really thank you guys for being part of this. I really could not be happier to share this trophy with anybody than you guys”, said Zverev during the trophy ceremony.
