Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev satisfied after their dream start - and hungry
Team Germany defeated Spain 3-0 in their first group game at the Hopman Cup in Perth Spain.
by tennisnet / SID
last edit:
Dec 30, 2018, 03:10 pm
Angelique Kerber stood in the cabin aisle and looked a little impatient. "Where's he going?", She seemed to ask herself. There was still a bit of work to be done, even if there was nothing left.
Then, however, Alexander Zverev turned the corner and offered her something to eat, but the Wimbledon winner thankfully declined. And less than an hour later, Kerber and Zverev had also won the mixed game at the start of the Hopman Cup with a final score of 3-0 against Spain.
But that was still the easiest exercise for both of them that day.
Kerber ends black series against Muguruza
At the end of the year, the Hopman Cup also marks the start of the new tennis year, and from this point of view, 2019 started hard work for the three-time major winner and the ATP world champion.
Kerber beat the two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza 6: 2, 3: 6, 6: 3 in a high-class match. Zverev then won his no less exciting duel against David Ferrer with 6: 4, 4: 6, 7: 6 (7: 0). The doubles went 4: 2, 4: 3 (5: 3) to the Germans.
"We want to win this time" Alexander Zverev on the goals of the German team at the Hopman Cup
The two singles tore the audience out of their seats at the Perth RAC Dome. "It's always difficult to play against another Grand Slam champion and that's why I'm really happy with how I played. I tried to enjoy my first match of the year," said Kerber after her successful endurance test.
She had previously lost five times in a row to Muguruza, winner of the French Open 2016 and Wimbledon 2017 and currently number 18 in the world rankings.
Next opponent on Wednesday: France
Kerber has won all singles since her first participation in the unofficial Mixed World Cup at the end of last year, but in January she and Zverev lost to Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic, who once again form the Swiss team.
The final will take place on January 5th, but Kerber and Zverev still have to face France (January 2nd) and hosts Australia (January 4th). On Monday Serena Williams intervenes for the United States for the first time.
Zverev left no doubt as to what Perth is all about. First: "We want to win this time." Second: the Hopman Cup "is the perfect preparation for Melbourne", ie for the Australian Open (from January 14th).
Much Zverev praise for "Fighter" Ferrer
Until then, Zverev still had work to do: 36-year-old Ferrer demanded everything from the fourth in the world rankings. With 45 "unforced errors", Zverev made life difficult for himself. In the meantime he looked very frustrated.
After the match, Zverev therefore praised his opponent, who wants to resign during the year. "He is perhaps the greatest fighter we have ever seen in tennis."