‘I love this country’: Kerber drawing on previous Australian success as she and Zverev get ready for the United Cup

Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber have had very different lead-ins to the United Cup, but history suggests they should be one of the favourites for the team event.

They spent Thursday afternoon cruising around Sydney Harbour, but Germany is now ready to dive into the United Cup with world number seven Alexander Zverev set to team up with the returning Angelique Kerber in what shapes as one of the most intriguing groups of the tournament.

The Germans have been drawn alongside fellow European heavyweights France and Italy for the team event which begins in Perth on Friday, with action to get underway in Sydney on Saturday.

France is favoured to top Group D, but they’ll have to wait until the New Year to play their first tie with Germany and Italy set to clash on Saturday night.

It’ll be a good chance for Zverev to begin his Australian Open preparations, with the 26-year-old keen to atone for his shock early exit from this year’s event when he was bounced in the second round.

He’ll face Lorenzo Sonego in his first match before he takes on the unorthodox Adrian Mannarino on Monday.

Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev begin their United Cup campaign in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“To start off with we have Italy and France who are very big tennis nations who have had great success over the past few years,” Zverev said.

“Especially in team competitions, France have always been up there while Italy just won the Davis Cup.

“We obviously have a very difficult group, but I think we are also part of that difficult group with them and hopefully we come out of it and then see who we’ve got (in the finals).”

While Zverev has one eye on grand slam success in 2024, it’s a different story for Kerber who makes her return to the tennis court for the first time since Wimbledon nearly 18 months ago, with the former world number one becoming a mother earlier this year.

Melbourne is a happy hunting ground for Kerber who won her first grand slam there in 2016 when she beat Serena Williams in the final, but she said in a recent interview that she had to be patient after so long out of the game.

Kerber is preparing to play her first tournament in 18 months. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The three-time major winner has enjoyed success with Zverev in the past, with the pair keen to repeat their 2018 and 2019 form which saw them make the Hopman Cup finals.

She’ll face Jasmine Paolini in her first match back and is hoping to draw on her success Down Under as she gets some much-needed match practice in before the Australian Open.

“I’m feeling good, I’m feeling excited,” she said.

“For me to come back and start in Australia is really special.

“I love this country, I love this place and I’m really looking forward to (playing).

“Starting with the United Cup with the team, it’s even nicer for me.”