United Cup: Zverev snatches victory from jaws of defeat, forces mixed doubles decider

Germany’s Alexander Zverev defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-4 at the United Cup Finals in Sydney on Sunday night.

The win levels the United Cup final between Germany and Poland at 1-1, with Iga Swiatek having beaten Angelique Kerber in her singles match earlier in the day.

Poland were millimetres from winning the United Cup, with Hurkacz holding two match points in the second set against Zverev. On one of them, the German hit a brilliant running passing shot that barely nicked the line to win the point.

“I have absolutely no idea [how I won this match],” said an exhausted Zverev after the victory. “This is how tennis goes sometimes, you win or lose by millimetres. Today I was lucky in a way.”

“I was exhausted in the middle of the second set, third set I was hanging on most of the time. Somehow, I got the break. Three days in a row, singles and mixed, it’s tough.”

Zverev played until 1:30am this morning to see Germany past Australia in the semi-finals, only getting to bed around 6am before coming out to play for two hours, 59 minutes against Hurkacz.

With Zverev looking out on his feet for big portions of the second and third sets, his victory keeps Germany alive and now forces a mixed doubles match to be played that will determine this year’s United Cup winner.

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