After the top-ranked Swiatek had brushed aside Angelique Kerber in straight sets, Zverev leveled the final as he overcame two match points and fatigue to beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6), 6-4 in a three-hour thriller.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zverev then teamed up with Laura Siegemund to down Swiatek and Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 as Germany won its first United Cup title in the early hours of Monday morning, Xinhua reports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An indefatigable Zverev showed superb fitness and mental strength after backing up from a grueling semifinal against Australia, where he lost in three sets to Alex de Minaur before helping Germany clinch the decisive mixed doubles at 2.20am local time on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Swiatek had given Poland the lead after she won her fifth straight match of the tournament with a convincing 6-3, 6-0 victory over former world No. 1 Kerber at Ken Rosewall Arena.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 22-year-old Swiatek claimed her 16th consecutive win stretching back to a strong finish last year when she emerged victorious at the China Open and season-ending WTA Finals in Mexico.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Swiatek has already racked up four Grand Slam titles, but has never reached the final of the Australian Open with her best result being a semifinal finish in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Pole thwarted an early challenge from Kerber, who continued her return from an 18-month layoff due to maternity leave.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kerber came out swinging in a see-saw first set before Swiatek stepped up her level and took control to cruise to victory in 70 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I'm really proud of myself that I could win all my singles,\" Swiatek said. \"[Kerber] was really picking the right spot to play and she surprised me sometimes at the beginning of the set with her decision-making and choices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I felt like my game can be more dynamic, and I just pushed Angelique a bit more after it was four-three [in the first set].\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Germany's title hopes rested with Zverev, and he proved he had plenty left in the tank as he went toe-to-toe with No. 9 Hurkacz in a tense first set. Hurkacz lifted in the tiebreak to draw first blood, and he hoped to power away from a presumably tired Zverev.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the big-hitting German produced a gutsy effort and saved two match points in the tiebreak, the first through an incredible crosscourt forehand winner at 6-4 down. He forced a deciding set and found a way to clinch a memorable victory despite looking gassed on several occasions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I was exhausted,\" Zverev said. \"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.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/01\/zverev-inspires-germany-to-united-cup-title.jpeg", "alt_img": "Zverev inspires Germany to United Cup title", "alt_title": "Zverev inspires Germany to United Cup title", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Zverev Inspires Germany To United Cup Title On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Zverev Inspires Germany To United Cup Title, Ken Rosewall Arena: World No. 7 Alexander Zverev produced a heroic performance to lift Germany past Iga Swiatek's Poland in.", "seo_keywords": "United Cup, World No, Alexander Zverev, Iga Swiatek, Angelique Kerber, Hubert Hurkacz, Laura Siegemund, Ken Rosewall Arena, China Open, WTA Finals, Grand Slam, Australian Open, The Pole", "tag": "", "tagging": "United Cup, World No, Alexander Zverev, Iga Swiatek, Angelique Kerber, Hubert Hurkacz, Laura Siegemund, Ken Rosewall Arena, China Open, WTA Finals, Grand Slam, Australian Open, The Pole", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "zverev-inspires-germany-to-united-cup-title", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "592", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2024-01-08 09:16:03", "updated": "2024-01-08 09:16:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "United Cup, World No, Alexander Zverev, Iga Swiatek, Angelique Kerber, Hubert Hurkacz, Laura Siegemund, Ken Rosewall Arena, China Open, WTA Finals, Grand Slam, Australian Open, The Pole", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-01-08 09:16:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "tennis", "cnmid": "848577", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/zverev-inspires-germany-to-united-cup-title-11955" }