Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund take the reigning champion to CF of the United Cup | ATP Tour

United Cup

Zverev and Siegemund take the reigning champion to CF of the United Cup

Germany defeats China 2-1 to win Group E

December 30, 2024

Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund maintained their perfect record as a team in the United Cup on Monday, giving the lead in Group E to Alemenia.

The pair won 6-2, 7-6(3) over Zhang Zhizhen and Zhang Shuai in the mixed doubles match that decided the series, leaving the final score at 2-1 in favor of the defending champions. Zverev and Siegemund have won the four mixed duels they have played in the tournament and this time it helped them reserve a place in the quarterfinals, where Kazakhstan awaits them.

“Triple ZZZ is a very fun guy, we had a great singles match and a great mixed doubles match with Laura,” Zverev noted. “I’m happy that we’re in the quarterfinals and happy that China is in the quarterfinals too. Congratulations to the Chinese team.”

“It was a great game,” Siegemund added. “When you play for the first time in a while, you never know what’s going to happen, and I thought it was a great performance.”

Previously, to start the day Zverev had to rally to put Germany ahead 1-0 against Zhang Zhizhen 2-6, 6-0, 6-2. For his part, Gao Xinyu managed to equalize the tie by surprising Siegemund 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, leaving the series at 1-1. With his victory, Gao secured second place in Group E, which will allow China to face the champion of Group A in the quarterfinals.

“I didn’t start well… I missed a lot of shots with my backhand, which is normally my most stable side,” Zverev warned. “He was playing very well, aggressive. “It didn’t let me get into the game or find my rhythm.”

“Then I hit some deep shots in the second set and got into a rhythm from the baseline. “I found my rhythm and I am happy with my performance in the second and third sets,” added the German.

In the individual match, Zhang returned to the good feelings he had left in his debut against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro last Friday, where he won in 54 minutes. The Chinese star broke Zverev’s serve twice and protected his serve with 93% of points won with firsts (13/14), according to Infosys ATP statistics.

Zhang, who reached his first ATP Tour final in Hangzhou last September, finished off an impeccable first set. And it forced Zverev, a 23-time ATP tournament champion, to do his best to turn the score around. But the German found the escape to leave the Lexus ATP Head2Head 2-0 in his favor against the Chinese.

Although Siegemund had the opportunity to close out the tie for Germany in the second singles match, it was Gao who extended his dream week. The World No. 175, who replaced Zheng Qinwen, had only scored one WTA victory before the United Cup. It was last September in Hua Hin.

But at the beginning of the season he has already achieved two victories. Not only was she able to beat Siegemund, but she also beat the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in three hours and 22 minutes.