Australia suffers United Cup heartbreak despite De Minaur toppling Alexander Zverev

Despite Alex de Minaur continuing his giant-killing spree, Australia has been knocked out of the United Cup after a marathon mixed doubles clash.

Australia's Alex de Minaur hits a return against Germany's Alexander Zverev during their men's singles match at the United Cup tennis event on Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on January 6, 2024. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE —

Australia has been knocked out of the United Cup in the most heartbreaking fashion possible, losing a seesawing mixed doubles marathon in a third set match tiebreak that didn’t finish until 2:19am.

After Ajla Tomljanovic lost a three-set epic, and Alex de Minaur scored a heroic comeback win to beat former world number two Alexander Zverev, it came down to the mixed doubles, with Aussie pairing Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden facing Laura Seigemund and Zverev.

In a match that didn’t start until midnight, the Aussie duo bounced back after losing the opening set to take the second in a nail biting encounter in front of a small but vocal home crowd.

Zverev, who was visibly cramping after spending more than five hours on court, was Germany’s hero, serving out the match as Hunter hit a forehand long to end Australia’s campaign with a 7-6 6-7 15-13 score in the first to 10 match tiebreak.

All three matches went a full three sets, with Germany booking a spot in Sunday night’s final against Poland.

Storm Hunter of Australia and Matthew Ebden went down to Laura Seigemund and Alexander Zverev. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Earlier in the night, de Minaur put in another stunning performance in what has already been one of the best weeks of his career.

Just three days after beating Novak Djokovic in the biggest win of his career, the Aussie world number 11 put in another sublime display of shot making, converting a break point early in the third and deciding set into a rousing victory in front of a raucous Sydney crowd.

“This is my favourite court in the whole world, every time I step out here I get goose bumps,” de Minaur said moments after the win. “I was hanging in there, Sascha’s a hell of a player and he was too good for me (in the first set).

“I managed to get out of jail in the second set, got a couple of break points, then I freed up a little bit.

“There were a couple of cheap errors from him late in the second set and the momentum changed and the crowd got behind. I just tried to ride the wave.”

Alex de Minaur hits a return against Germany's Alexander Zverev during their men's singles match at the United Cup tennis event. Picture: David Gray/AFP.

The result kept Australia’s United Cup chances alive after Tomljanovic’s defeat to Kerber earlier in the evening.

De Minaur’s win is just his second in eight matches against the 2020 US Open finalist and will see him move inside the top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career.

Zverev’s sheer power earned him the opening set against a dogged but outgunned de Minaur, before the Aussie worked his way back into the contest in the second.

A marathon 13-minute service hold in the second set proved the turning point as Zverev became increasingly frustrated during the two-and-a-half hour epic.

Zverev, who came back from a serious ankle injury last year, couldn’t match de Minaur’s phenomenal pace late in the match as the Australian served out a famous win.

Earlier, Tomljanovic lost her own three-set, two-and-a-half hour epic against former world number one Kerber.

Germany's Angelique Kerber shakes hands with Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic after her victory during their women's singles match at the United Cup Picture: David Gray/AFP.

Winless in her first three matches at the tournament, Kerber overcame a misfiring serve to win a third-set tiebreak after fending off two match points.

“I’ve tried to learn from the last three matches, coming out here and winning such a tough battle, it means a lot to me,” Kerber, 35, said. “I really missed this atmosphere and the emotions. It means a lot playing for your country. It’s something I’m really proud of, starting the year like this is a great feeling.”

The opening set was a wild one, with Tomljanovic broken in the first game, before reeling off three consecutive service breaks of her own to go up 5-1.

Kerber wound back the clock though, with the three-time Grand Slam champion breaking the Aussie twice more as Tomljanovic wasted two opportunities to serve out the set.

Tomljanovic eventually earned her fourth break to take the opening frame 6-4.

The string of broken service games continued into the second set, this time Kerber converting three of seven as she dialled in her power and precision to level the score.

There were more breaks and more impressive baseline play in the third, before Kerber had the chance to serve for the match as the contest approached the two-and-a-half hour mark.

But her faltering serve deserted Kerber yet again, two ill-advised drop shots allowing Tomljanovic to break back and force a tiebreak.

Both players produced some of the best tennis of the tournament in the tiebreak, with a 25 shot rally showcasing Tomljanovic’s incredible defence.

The Aussie had two match points, but couldn’t convert, finally sending a backhand into the net to hand Kerber an emotional victory.

Originally published as Australia suffers United Cup heartbreak despite De Minaur toppling Alexander Zverev