Germany and Italy bounce back at ATP Cup with first wins
Published: 02:01 PM,Jan 04,2022 | EDITED : 06:01 PM,Jan 04,2022
Tennis - ATP Cup - Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, Australia - January 4, 2022 Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during his group stage match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Berlin: Germany and Italy bounced back from opening defeats with victories at the ATP Cup in Sydney on Tuesday.
Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennart Struff won their singles rubbers to help Germany beat the United States 2-1 while Italians Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner crushed France 3-0.
Coming off a 2-1 defeat against Britain, Struff put Germany ahead when he survived 34 aces from John Isner to win 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-5.
World number three Zverev then converted his sixth match point with an ace for a 6-4, 6-4 success over Taylor Fritz to give the Germans an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Fritz and Isner then beat Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz 6-0, 6-3 in the dead rubber doubles.
'Until the last game it was a good level for my second match of year,' Olympic champion Zverev said. 'It was very intense and hard hitting. The most important thing is that Team Germany won and we have given ourselves the best chance of reaching the semis.'
Germany and the US are at 1-1 in Group C and face Canada and Britain,respectively in their final group games. Canada (0-1) were playing Britain (1-0) in the other tie Tuesday. Only the group winner advances to the semi-finals.
Like the Germans, Italy are now at 1-1 after their Group B win against the French who are out at 0-2. Australia and Russia, both at1-0, were contesting the other tie.
World number 10 Sinner fought from a break down in the second set to beat Arthur Rinder knech 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), and Wimbledon finalist Berrettini clinched matters with his 18th ace for a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)victory against Ugo Humbert.
The Italian pair then also prevailed in the dead rubber doubles, 6-3,6-7 (7-9), 10-8, against Fabrice Martin and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
'I had to play my best tennis in the important moments to win the match,' Berrettini said after beating Humbert. 'I'm really happy[with] my performance. I need to play matches as much as possible, so I'm happy.' -- dpa
Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennart Struff won their singles rubbers to help Germany beat the United States 2-1 while Italians Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner crushed France 3-0.
Coming off a 2-1 defeat against Britain, Struff put Germany ahead when he survived 34 aces from John Isner to win 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-5.
World number three Zverev then converted his sixth match point with an ace for a 6-4, 6-4 success over Taylor Fritz to give the Germans an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Fritz and Isner then beat Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz 6-0, 6-3 in the dead rubber doubles.
'Until the last game it was a good level for my second match of year,' Olympic champion Zverev said. 'It was very intense and hard hitting. The most important thing is that Team Germany won and we have given ourselves the best chance of reaching the semis.'
Germany and the US are at 1-1 in Group C and face Canada and Britain,respectively in their final group games. Canada (0-1) were playing Britain (1-0) in the other tie Tuesday. Only the group winner advances to the semi-finals.
Like the Germans, Italy are now at 1-1 after their Group B win against the French who are out at 0-2. Australia and Russia, both at1-0, were contesting the other tie.
World number 10 Sinner fought from a break down in the second set to beat Arthur Rinder knech 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), and Wimbledon finalist Berrettini clinched matters with his 18th ace for a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)victory against Ugo Humbert.
The Italian pair then also prevailed in the dead rubber doubles, 6-3,6-7 (7-9), 10-8, against Fabrice Martin and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
'I had to play my best tennis in the important moments to win the match,' Berrettini said after beating Humbert. 'I'm really happy[with] my performance. I need to play matches as much as possible, so I'm happy.' -- dpa