AFP, Brisbane :
Alexander Zverev handed Germany a 1-0 lead in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie against Australia when he outlasted Alex de Minaur in a four-hour marathon in Brisbane on Friday.
Zverev was forced to fight every step of the way before seeing off the challenge of the 18-year-old de Minaur 7-5, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Pat Rafter Arena.
The world number five had looked down and out when de Minaur, playing superb defensive tennis, took a two sets to love lead.
But Zverev fought back to win the fourth set before recovering from an early break in the fifth to force a tiebreak.
He then created a mini-break at 3-4 in the tiebreak and served superbly to take the match and give his country the early advantage.
Zverev, 20, has had a disappointing Davis Cup record, with one win and four losses before Friday’s match.
Considered one of the rising stars of the men’s game, he also has a poor Grand Slam record and fell in the third round of the Australian Open.
Alexander Zverev handed Germany a 1-0 lead in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie against Australia when he outlasted Alex de Minaur in a four-hour marathon in Brisbane on Friday.
Zverev was forced to fight every step of the way before seeing off the challenge of the 18-year-old de Minaur 7-5, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Pat Rafter Arena.
The world number five had looked down and out when de Minaur, playing superb defensive tennis, took a two sets to love lead.
But Zverev fought back to win the fourth set before recovering from an early break in the fifth to force a tiebreak.
He then created a mini-break at 3-4 in the tiebreak and served superbly to take the match and give his country the early advantage.
Zverev, 20, has had a disappointing Davis Cup record, with one win and four losses before Friday’s match.
Considered one of the rising stars of the men’s game, he also has a poor Grand Slam record and fell in the third round of the Australian Open.
