Google News
On Saturday, Germany will compete in the United Cup semi-final against the home nation Australia. In the last quarter-final tie on Friday, Germany defeated Greece 2-1, with an inspired Alexander Zverev bringing two wins for his country.
Maria Sakkari and Angelique Kerber kicked off the action, and the Greek earned a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory. Kerber, who is playing her first event after giving birth to a child, could not match her rival, losing almost 60% of the points in her games and getting broken five times.
Sakkari grabbed a bagel in the opener, fending off three out of four break points and keeping the pressure on the other side. Maria raced into a 5-0 lead in the opener, earning a bagel when Angelique squandered game points in the sixth.
The Greek led 3-0 in the second set before the German pulled the break back, reducing the deficit to 3-2. However, Sakkari broke again in the sixth game, moving 4-2 in front and holding at 15 in the next one.
Alexander Zverev ousted Stefanos Tsitsipas at the United Cup.
Kerber denied two match points on serve in the eighth game and created a break chance at 3-5.
Sakkari denied it and seized the third match point, pushing Greece 1-0 in front. Alexander Zverev battled against Stefanos Tsitsipas and earned a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 36 minutes, keeping Germany in contention. Alexander ousted Stefanos for the fifth time in 14 duels, producing a clinic behind the initial shot and maintaining the pressure on the other side.
Zverev served at 80% and kept his second serve safe, denying two break points and stealing Tsitsipas's serve two times from eight opportunities. Stefanos dominated with his first serve but struggled big time on the second, taking six out of 24 points and feeling the pressure!
Alexander kicked off the duel with three fine holds and pushed strong on the return at 3-3. The German seized the third break point after the Greek's loose backhand, moving in front and holding after deuce with a service winner in the next one for 5-3.
Tsitsipas served to stay in the set in game nine and faced three set points. The Greek denied them and held to prolong the set. Alexander served for the set at 5-4 and offered his rival two break points.
Zverev saved them with booming serves and fired an ace on a set point for 6-4 in 49 minutes. There was nothing to separate them in the second set's opening eight games, with Alexander holding at love in game eight with a drop shot winner for 4-4.
Tsitsipas spayed a backhand error in game nine, facing three break points. He sprayed a forehand mistake on the second, propelling Zverev 5-4 in front. The German served for the win in game ten and landed a volley winner for three match points.
Alexander converted the first with a booming serve, bringing Germany to 1-1 ahead of the deciding mixed doubles clash. Zverev returned to the court with Laura Siegemund, and they beat Maria Sakkari and Petros Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 25 minutes, delivering the crucial point for Germany and moving into the semi-final.