Zverev’s Heroic Triumph Lifts Germany to United Cup Glory

World No. 7 Alexander Zverev showcased unwavering determination, propelling Germany to a historic victory over Iga Swiatek’s Poland in a thrilling United Cup final in Sydney.

After Swiatek’s straight-sets triumph against Angelique Kerber, Zverev delivered an extraordinary performance, battling past Hubert Hurkacz in a three-hour nail-biter, securing the win with a scoreline of 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6), 6-4.

In a dramatic turn, Zverev, alongside Laura Siegemund, then triumphed over Swiatek and Hurkacz in the mixed doubles, clinching the title for Germany with a 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 victory.

Zverev’s resilience was on full display as he bounced back from a challenging semifinal against Australia, where he played a pivotal role in Germany’s mixed doubles triumph at 2.20 am local time on Sunday.

Despite Swiatek’s initial lead for Poland, Zverev’s heroics secured Germany’s first United Cup title, marking a significant moment in the early hours of Monday morning.

Swiatek, with her fifth consecutive win in the tournament, displayed her dominance with a convincing 6-3, 6-0 victory over former world No. 1 Kerber. Her impressive streak of 16 consecutive wins extends back to her victories at the China Open and WTA Finals in Mexico last year.

While Swiatek boasts four Grand Slam titles, her quest for an Australian Open final continues, with her best result being a semifinal finish in 2022.

Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek said, “I’m proud of myself that I could win all my singles,” acknowledging Kerber’s strategic play in the match.

The spotlight then turned to Zverev, who faced the formidable No. 9 Hurkacz. Despite a tense first set, Zverev’s resilience shone through as he saved two match points in a thrilling tiebreak. Despite moments of exhaustion, he secured a memorable victory in the deciding set.

“I was exhausted,” Zverev admitted. “In the middle of the second set, I was already exhausted, and in the third set, I was hanging on a lot of the time and somehow got the break.”

–IANS