The German tennis men around Alexander Zverev can continue to hope to make it to the semi-finals at the ATP Cup. Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff ensured on Tuesday in Sydney against the USA with their successes in the individual that the necessary 2-1 victory in the second group game was already certain after the individual.
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Two days after the 1: 2 at the start against Great Britain, Struff first defeated the strong serving John Isner with 7: 6 (9: 7), 4: 6, 7: 5. Then Zverev won 6: 4, 6: 4 against Taylor Fritz and in a hard-fought last service game with the sixth match point made the uncatchable 2-0 intermediate result perfect.
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In the end, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz lost in doubles 0: 6, 3: 6 against Fritz and Isner and showed a disappointing performance over long periods. For Pütz it was the first use in the team competition after arm problems, for him Zverev jumped in against the British – but without success.
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Despite the difficulties against Fritz, Zverev was overall satisfied with his performance in the end. “I’m just happy that I gave us the chance to reach the semi-finals,” said the world number three. The 24-year-old missed three match balls in a row against Fritz, a crashing ace through the middle with the second serve finally meant the decision on the sixth opportunity after just under an hour and a half.
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Previously, Struff had survived 31 aces of the 2.08 meter tall veteran Isner. The Warsteiner used his third match point against the serve of the 36-year-old for the first victory over Isner. “It’s always difficult against John. I’ve played against him four times and lost four times. That’s why I’m very happy to have won the day for my team,” said the 31-year-old Struff.
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The German team had to get their first win after the opening defeat against Great Britain in order to have a chance of winning the group in Season C. Only the first placed in the four groups reach the semi-finals. The last German opponent this Thursday is Canada, which will meet the British earlier this Tuesday. In addition to its own success at the end, the German selection is also dependent on a slip by Great Britain.
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