Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber led Germany to a crucial 2-1 win over Australia helping their team reach the final of the Hopman Cup in Perth. Germany won all their three round robin matches to set up a final against a Swiss team formed by Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic, who produced a perfect record.
Germany beat Australia 2-1 to finish ahead of Belgium after wins from Kerber and the mixed doubles. Zverev and Kerber went down 1-2 in the final set tie-break. The German team will play in their first Hopman Cup since 1995 when Anke Huber and Boris Becker clinched the second and last title for their country with a 3-0 win over the Ukraine.
Kerber showed that she has returned to her best form after a tough 2017 season when she cruised past Daria Gavrilova 6-1 6-2. The tennis player from Bremen served at 72 % and saved all five break points she faced. She converted on all of her four break points. She had to save four break points in the opening game before breaking serve at love in the second game when Gavrilova made a double fault. Kerber got another break at love in the fourth game and sealed the first set in the seventh game with a service winner after 23 minutes.
Gavrilova earned a break point in the fourth game but Kerber saved it. The German player broke serve with a return winner in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Kerber got another break in the seventh game and sealed the win with a forehand winner.
In the men’s singles match Thanasi Kokkinakis fought back from one set down to edge Alexander Zverev 5-7 7-6 6-4 after 2 hours and 41 minutes. Zverev served at 73 % but faced eight break points. Kokkinakis converted only one break point. The Aussie player saved two break points in the third game in a tight first set, which went on serve before Zverev broke serve, as Kokkinakis netted a forehand. Zverev hit a service winner to seal the first set after 49 minutes.
Kokkinakis did not face any break points in his service games. Zverev saved four set points in the 10th game. He saved two more set points in the 12th game to set up a tie-break. Kokkinakis got three mini-breaks to win the tie-break by 7-4, when Zverev sent a backhand long.
Kokkinakis did not face any break points in the decisive set and got the crucial break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The home player closed out the match in the 10th game with a service winner.
Germany needed to win the mixed doubles to reach the final. Gavrilova and Kokkinakis broke serve to win the first set 4-1. Kerber and Zverev broke in the second game to win the second set 4-1. The Australian team fended off three break points at the start of the third set but the Germans broke serve in the third game. Kokkinakis and Gavrilova broke straight back to draw level to 2-2.
Australia opened up a 3-1 lead in the decisive tie-break but Germany reeled off the last four points to secure their spot in the final against Switzerland.
“I almost screwed it up by myself. Angie played unbelievable in both of the matches. She is the reason we are in the final”, said Zverev.
Kerber embraced Zverev after the win in the mixed doubles match to celebrate the first final for Germany in 23 years.
“It’s just amazing. We are really happy to be in the final against Switzerland”, said Kerber.
