Tennis: Zverev injured: German team out of the United Cup

Instead of starting the new year happy and healthy, Alexander Zverev is struggling with an injury a few weeks before the first tennis highlight of the new season. Without the ailing second in the world rankings, the German selection lost 1-2 against Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals in Perth. This means that the team competition in Australia is coming to an early end one year after the surprising title win.

For Zverev, however, the biceps strain a week and a half before the Australian Open in Melbourne is much worse news. Daniel Masur moved up for the Hamburger and lost to Alexander Shevtschenko 7:6 (7:5), 2:6, 2:6 despite good resistance.

After Laura Siegemund’s previous 3:6, 1:6 against world number six Jelena Rybakina, the end was already certain. The 6:2, 6:2 victory of Siegemund and Tim Pütz in the final mixed doubles against Schibek Kulambajewa and Dmitri Popko was only a small consolation. This time the final round in Sydney will take place without German participation.

The big goal remains the first Grand Slam title

It was not initially clear how bad the biceps strain was, which the organizers in Perth only informed about shortly before the second individual. Zverev watched the action from the German team bench in the arena, which was flooded with Australian summer sunshine, together with his father and coach.

It remains to be seen whether he will have to take a longer break or whether the cancellation was nothing more than a purely precautionary measure. The big goal is and remains the long-awaited win of the first Grand Slam title in 2025.

In the preliminary round victories against Brazil and China, the 27-year-old won his singles against Thiago Monteiro and Zheng Zhizhen and already looked in good form. With Siegemund he won the decisive point in the mixed doubles against China. “We want to continue riding the wave from last year,” he announced afterwards, but nothing will come of it now.

In the evening at the New Year’s Eve fireworks

Zverev had obviously enjoyed the days in Perth and also felt very comfortable off the pitch. He reported on visiting tourist attractions and posted pictures on Instagram of the New Year’s Eve fireworks in the metropolis on the Western Australian coast. The game against Kazakhstan started at 10 a.m. local time in blazing heat, and the Kazakh team celebrated their entry into the semi-finals with a storm.

For many tennis professionals, the United Cup is the start of the new season and at the same time an important preparation for the Australian Open, which begins in mid-January 2025.