PERTH, Australia — Alexander Zverev beat Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-4 as Germany beat Brazil on Sunday to secure its United Cup defense, while the Czech Republic, United States and Italy all won.
Zverev was sidelined for a long time after injuring ankle ligaments at the 2022 French Open, but returned to a career-high ranking of No. 2 after winning the Paris Masters last month.
The 27-year-old continued his good form in his first match at the mixed team tournament to start the season, using a heavy shot from the baseline to force a break before coming up with a huge ace to take the opening set on serve.
Zverev picked up the pace at the start of the next set with a stunning backhand win en route to another break, giving Germany a comfortable 2-0 lead ahead of the mixed doubles match.
“I am very happy to come back and play for the German national team,” Zverev said. “Perth is one of my favorite cities in Australia. I really enjoy my time here.
“I didn’t play that much tennis in the offseason. I was actually in the gym. So I guess the work paid off.”
Laura Siegemund earned her first point from Group E with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia at the RAC Arena. She later teamed up with Tim Puetz to record a clean sweep with a 7-6 (8), 6-4 win over Carolina Alves and Rafael Matos.
The United States, the inaugural champions of the 2023 tournament, tied Group A with Canada well after midnight when Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz beat Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(2), 7-5.
Gauff had previously beaten Fernandez 6-3, 6-2, before Auger-Aliassime stunned Fritz 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to level the Canadian.
Flavio Cobolli defeated Dominic Stricker 6-3, 7-6(2) and Jasmine Paolini defeated Belinda Bencic in Italy’s Group D match in Sydney. They defeated Switzerland by defeating (Belinda Bencic) 6-1, 6-1 in 58 minutes. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori dispatched Bencic and Stricker 6-4, 6-4 to make it 3-0.
Earlier, 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Mukova began her campaign with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Malene Helgo, but Norway leveled their Group B tie against the Czech Republic thanks to a Casper Ruud effort.
Ruud needed several medical timeouts with a left thigh issue before seeing off Tomas Machac 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4, but the world number six failed to return in the mixed doubles decider that followed.
United Cup debutants Mukova and Mahak overcame a quick comeback in their singles match to thump Ulrike Eykeri and Viktor Durasovic 6-4, 6-4 at the Ken Rosewall Arena.
