United Cup: Zverev earns redemption as Germany beat Australia to reach final

• De Minaur had beaten Zverev before decisive mixed doubles
• Jordan Thompson’s Brisbane run ended by Grigor Dimitrov

There was redemption for Alexander Zverev as Germany ended Australia’s United Cup campaign at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, with the world No 6 recovering after a singles defeat to Alex de Minaur to team up with Laura Siegemund and secure a 2-1 victory in the tie’s deciding rubber.

Germany will now take on Poland in Sunday’s final after Zverev and Siegemund came out on top in the mixed doubles after a marathon 28-point match tie-break to eventually edge out Matt Ebden and the women’s world doubles No 1, Storm Hunter, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (2-7), 15-13.

The semi-final came down to the mixed doubles after the opening women’s singles saw Angelique Kerber beat Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7). De Minaur then levelled it up when he added Zverev to his growing list of recent giant-killings, roaring back from a set down to triumph 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 against the rangy world No 6. De Minaur, who had won only one of his previous seven meetings against Zverev, will now enter the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time.

“It’s what I’ve worked so hard for, it’s another milestone,” said De Minaur of his victory over Zverev. “But the job’s not done … we keep improving, we keep working. It’s going to be a fun Aussie summer.”

After his maiden victory over the 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic and also defeating big-hitting American Taylor Fritz, Zverev presented another significant challenge. The methodical, oft-fiery German got a break late in the first set and ground his way to an assured early lead. De Minaur dug in during the second, the 24-year-old Australian survived an 11-minute battle to hold serve at 2-2 in the second set before breaking Zverev and squaring the match.

With his confidence emboldened, the Australian broke Zverev straight away in the third and held on for victory. “I got out of jail in the second set and the whole momentum changed and got behind me, I just tried to ride the wave,” said De Minaur.

His calmness under pressure was in direct contrast to Tomljanovic, who had earlier slumped to a loss at the hands of a three-time grand slam champion, albeit one just returning to the game after from the birth of her first child. The Australian was in cruise control through the opening set but imploded in the second, eventually recovering to secure a tie-break in the third before losing out after wasting two match points. “It’s my first singles win since coming back and it’s a great feeling,” said the German.

At the Brisbane International, the Australian world No 43, Jordan Thompson, was defeated in a tight semi-final by Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 7-5. Thompson, 29, had beaten Rafael Nadal on Friday night, saving three match points in a clash that went into a fourth hour and finished at midnight. He did not roll over despite getting only limited rest, forcing the Bulgarian into some brilliant strokeplay to make a third Brisbane final.

Dimitrov, the world No 14, will play Holger Rune in the final with the 20-year-old top seed going in search of a fifth ATP title after a tough victory of his own, triumphing 6-4, 7-6 (7-0), against Roman Safiullin. After taking the first set, Rune was broken early in the second by the in-form Russian, which saw the Dane smash his racket in frustration before regrouping to break back. Rune then saved break points again before executing a faultless tie-break.

“If I want to do what I want to do in Melbourne, I’m going to be under a much bigger amount of pressure if I’m going to stay on the last day on Sunday [in the Australian Open final],” said Rune. “Tomorrow’s a great challenge to see how I handle everything.”

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