NAN-S-16
Tennis
Abuja, Feb. 2, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Alexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 early lead in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie against Australia in Brisbane on Friday.
The German outlasted Alex de Minaur in a four-hour marathon but was forced to fight every step of the way before seeing off the challenge of the 18-year-old de Minaur.
He won 7-5, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) at the Pat Rafter Arena.
De Minaur played a superb defensive tennis, and world number five Zverev had looked down and out when he took a two sets to one lead.
However, Zverev fought back to win the fourth set before recovering from an early break in the fifth to force a tiebreak.
He went on to create a mini-break at 3-4 in the tiebreak and served superbly to take the match and give his country an early lead.
The 20-year-old does not have an enviable Davis Cup record, winning only once and losing four times before Friday’s match.
Although considered one of the rising stars men’s tennis, Zverev also has a poor Grand Slam record, as he fell in the third round of the 2018 Australian Open.
The German will now meet Nick Kyrgios who beat Jan-Lennard Struff 3-0 in the second singles, after winning 6-4 6-4 6-4.(NAN/Reuters)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)