Fourth game, finally the first victory: Angelique Kerber won her opening singles in the semi-final of the United Cup between Germany and hosts Australia after a great energetic performance.
On her comeback after maternity leave, the 35-year-old beat Ajla Tomljanovic 4:6, 6:2 and 7:6 (9:7) after 2:34 hours.
Kerber had previously lost her first three singles, some of them significantly, but this time the returnee gave the German tennis team a 1-0 lead.
Alexander Zverev can now complete the entry of the team supervised by long-time Kerber coach Torben Beltz in the following singles. The Olympic champion meets Alex de Minaur in the second match.
In the event of success, the mixed doubles would no longer have any meaning – two match wins lead to advancement. Poland with world number one Iga Swiatek is the first final participant after a 3-0 win against France.
Tennis: Angelique Kerber is improving significantly
Kerber also got off to a mixed start against Tomljanovic, but after that she fought her way into the game better and better.
The former Wimbledon champion made fewer mistakes, her forehand became more powerful – and in the decisive tiebreak in the last set she really wanted her first comeback victory.