Zverev Beats Kyrgios To Lead Germany Into QFs

AUSTRALIA 1, GERMANY 3
Venue: Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, AUS (hard- outdoor)

Alexander Zverev guided Germany into the quarter-finals of the 2018 Davis Cup with a commanding 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over Australian Nick Kyrgios Sunday in Brisbane.

Zverev was close to untouchable on serve, firing 15 aces, putting 71 per cent of first serves into play and winning 80 per cent of first-serve points. He also fought off all four break points he faced, while breaking Kyrgios four times. Kyrgios had won three of their four career FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings coming to the tie, including when they last met in the China Open semi-finals last year.

A frustrated Kyrgios was given a point penalty in the tie-break for smashing his racquet and was unable to pressure the World No. 5 in the third set. Zverev broke for a second time in the set in the final game of the match to secure the 3-1 victory for the Germans, who won Saturday’s pivotal doubles rubber in five sets.

It was a very different victory for Zverev, who on the opening day needed a fifth-set tie-break to beat 18-year-old Davis Cup debutant Alex de Minaur.

“It’s awesome, it’s an amazing feeling,” Zverev said on court after steering Germany to the quarter-finals for the first time in three years. “We’re super happy, but hopefully this is just the beginning for us.”

Germany will next play the winner of Great Britain and Spain.