Alexander Zverev started the 2024 season with two wins (one in singles and one in doubles) to help Germany beat Italy 2-1 at the United Cup at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Jasmine Paolini beat three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber 6-4 7-5 in 1 hour and 48 minutes to earn Italy a 1-0 lead over Germany at the United Cup in Sydney.
Kerber was playing her first match since Wimbledon 2022 after giving birth to her daughter Liana last February.
Kerber saved three break points in the second game of the first set. The German player broke serve at 30 in the third game before saving a break-back point in the fourth game with a forehand down the line. Paolini broke back at deuce in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. The Italian player reeled off four consecutive games to take a 5-3 lead.
Paolini was unable to serve out the first set, but she converted her sixth set point after a seven-deuce battle in the ninth game after 51 minutes.
Paolini broke serve in the fourth game at deuce to take a 3-1 lead. Kerber broke back in the fifth game for 2-3. Paolini fell to the ground clutching her left calf on her sixth break point of the game. The world number 30 player was required to forfeit all the games until the next change of ends in order to receive medical treatment and returned to the court as she trailing 3-4.
Kerber broke serve in the seventh game and held serve to love to take a 5-3 lead earning a set point. Paolini reeled off four consecutive games to seal the second set 7-5 after 57 minutes.
Paolini saved a set point in the ninth game to hold serve in the ninth game for 4-5. The Italian player saved another break point in the 10th game before breaking back to draw level to 5-5. Paolini went down 0-30 in the 11th game but she came back by winning eight consecutive points to break serve at love in the 12th game.
Paolini converted six of the 21 break points she faced and saved 7 of the 10 break points.
“It was a special day for me, coming back after being out for so long and playing at a high level. It feels great to get my first win coming back”, said Kerber.
Alexander Zverev came back from one set down to beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3 sending the tie to the deciding mixed doubles match.
Zverev earned the only break point in the third game, but he was not able to convert it. The first set went on serve in the next games. Zverev took a 5-4 lead with a mini-break, but Sonego won three consecutive points to seal the tie-break 7-5.
Sonego saved three break points in the second game of the second set. Zverev broke serve in the fourth game and held serve at love to open up a 4-1 lead. Sonego fended off three set points in the eighth game to hold serve in the ninth game. Zverev served out the second set 6-3 with a hold at love.
Zverev started the third set with a break at 15 in the first game to open up a 2-0 lead. Sonego saved two double break points in the fifth game. Zverev held his next service games to seal the win on his first match point.
“The first set was one of the best sets I have seen him play, but I just looked for ways to get back into the match. For the first match of the season I can’t complain”,said Zverev.
Zverev teamed up with Angelique Kerber to beat Sonego and Angelica Moratelli 6-3 6-0 in the decisive mixed doubles match. “We are both extremely happy. The whole team is extremely happy. Angie played great in mixed and her singles was high level in her first match back”, said Zverev.
