GERMANY will prepare for an Aussie assault today in Sydney when the European nation locks horns with the home nation in the semi-finals of the 2024 United Cup. The Germans got past Greece in the semi-finals to book their place in the final four thanks to some outstanding tennis from top ATP player, Alexander Zverev.

The German was sensational against Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 6-4 6-4 and then teaming up with doubles talent Laura Siegemund for the first time in the tournament at Ken Rosewall Arena. Siegemund and Zverev defeated the pairing of Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari – both top 10 in singles but not fluent doubles players – 6-3 6-3 to advance to the next stage of the torunament.

Earlier in teh day, Sakkari continued her wonderful unbeaten singles run with a dominant 6-0 6-3 performance over Angelique Kerber to put her nation in the box seat. Sakkari served three aces to nil and completely controlled the game off her serve, winning 75 and 50 per cent first and second seve points compared to the German’s poor 48 and 32 per cent.

Breaking five times to one, the Greek world number eight improved her record to 2-3 against Kerber, albeit with Kerber’s dominant three wins coming between 2016-21. Despite the one-sided result in 74 minutes, the shoe would be on the other foot in the men’s singles.

Zverev, playing inspired tennis smashed down five aces to four, but criticially won 76 and 73 per cent off his first and second serve. While Tsitsipas did well off his first serve (85 per cent), his poor second serve record (25 per cent) let him down, and was the difference in the 6-4 6-4. Zverev broke once in each set from a total of eight chances, while saving both break points on his own serve in a 97-minute win.

“I had to come out aggressive because I knew Stefanos is one of the best aggressive players, if not the best aggressive player, in the game,” Zverev said post-match. “If he is on the front foot it’s extremely difficult to play against him and that’s why I don’t have a great record against him.”

Zverev then took to the doubles court yet again in the tournament, but this time with Siegemund rather than Kerber, hoping to outpoint the cohesive Greek pair who though not doubles players during the year, are familiar with each other well through team events. aces to two and winning 76 per cent of their first serve points compared to 55, the Germans broke four times to one to ensure they would be the ones moving through to the final four.

“I really just tried to focus on my job,” Siegemund said post-match. “It was a pretty big match with the weight on our shoulders trying to carry the team forward to the semis. We’re a dangerous mixed when it comes to 1-all.”

TODAY’S ACTION

The two United Cup semi-finals take place today with Poland and France underway first in Sydney. The dominant pairing of Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz have only dropped one match this tournament, and will be strong favourites for the overall title. The Polish duo will pair up in the doubles as well if it is a live tie against Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin who won the deciding mixed doubles in the quarter finals against Norway. Garcia and Adrian Mannarino are the French singles players.

In the evening match, home nation Australia starts off with Ajla Tomljanovic against Kerber in what could prove crucial to the overall result. That is tipped to begin at around 5:30pm depending on how quickly the earlier tie goes. Following that singles match, the red-hot Alex de Minaur – fresh off wins over Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic – takes on world number seven Zverev. Then the top five doubles duo of Storm Hunter and Matthew Ebden take to the court against what will likely be Zverev and Siegemund again.