07:48
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:1
A. Tomljanović puts pressure on right from the start and immediately makes it 15-0 with a backhand longline. Afterwards, a forehand cross from Kerber is just out of touch and the Australian leads 30-0. Is there a direct rebreak?
07:47
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:1
This is the perfect start for the German team. The 35-year-old took advantage of her first break chance and took the 1-0 lead in the first set after a long return from Tomljanović. Can the former world number one confirm her break straight away?
07:46
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:0
A. Tomljanović’s first service game remains competitive. Kerber continues to be aggressive and puts both of them on 40 after a strong return and then even takes the advantage after the Australian’s backhand is too deep. Breakball for Kerber!
07:45
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:0
But then the Australian misses her forehand cross clearly out of bounds and it’s her debut for the second time. With an ace on the center line, A. Tomljanović gets the ball again in her service game
07:43
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:0
And again there is a debut. Kerber fends off the next ball with a smash from the net. Afterwards, the former Australian Open winner is a bit passive and A. Tomljanović gains the advantage again with a forehand cross.
07:42
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:0
But the German can fend off the first ball. A long rally develops and Kerber makes it 40:40 with a forehand longline on the line. A cross against Kerber’s direction gives the Australian the advantage.
07:40
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:0
A strong forehand cross from A. Tomljanović puts the former German number one under pressure. Her subsequent forehand cross lands in the net. Then the Australian hit her forehand just into the tabs to make it 30:30. A return from Kerber that is too long gives A. Tomljanović a game ball.
07:38
A. Tomljanović – A. Kerber 0:0
Tomljanović opens the first set with her service. She has to go over the second serve straight away and Kerber brings the return well into the field with his backhand. The Croatian native’s subsequent forehand lands in the net. 15:0 for the Germans. But then her return is a bit too long and A. Tomljanović equalizes to 15:15.
07:34
Coin toss goes to Kerber
Kerber wins the coin toss and decides to return. Ajla Tomljanović opened the first set with her service game.
07:32
Poland is waiting in the final
It’s not completely full in the Ken Rosewell Arena yet. The two players warm up and get started straight away. Incidentally, in the first semi-final, Poland clearly prevailed in the two singles against France.
07:27
The players come to the Ken Rosewell Arena
The German and Australian teams enter the arena in Sydney. When the Australian tennis team enters the arena it gets loud inside the stadium. The national anthems of the two nations are played.
07:25
The balance speaks for Kerber
The two tennis players have met three times in their careers so far and the German was able to clearly win all three matches in two sets. The two last met in the round of 16 in Indian Wells in 2021. At that time, Kerber won 6:4 and 6:1. Can the former Australian Open winner still win today after a break of almost a year and a half?
07:18
No win yet in 2024
After a win against Italy and a defeat against France, Germany moved into the quarter-finals as the best runner-up in the group. The German team only prevailed in the mixed doubles against Greece and made it to the semi-finals. Angelique Kerber returned to the tour at the beginning of January after her year and a half maternity leave, but the 35-year-old has not yet managed a single victory in the United Cup in singles. In the preliminary round she lost to the Italian Paolini 4:6 and 5:7 and then to the French Garcia 6:1, 2:6 and 2:6. In the quarterfinals, the former number one suffered a clear defeat against the current number eight in the world, Maria Sakkari, 0:6 and 3:6. Can the former German number one claim the first win of 2024 today?
07:10
Tomljanović contributed to the semi-finals with a singles victory in the quarter-finals
Ajla Tomljanović is number 292 in the world. The Australian played many Challenger tournaments last year and made it through the first round of last year’s US Open. The 30-year-old won 3:6, 6:2 and 6:4 against the Hungarian Udvardy. At the United Cup, the Zagreb-born tennis player lost her two singles in the preliminary round against Boulter (Great Britain) and Pegula (USA). In the quarterfinals, Natalija Stevanović, who has had Australian citizenship since 2018, clearly won 6-1 and 6-1 against Serbian Natalija Stevanović.
07:00
Good morning
Welcome to the second semi-final of the United Cup 2024. Germany will play for a place in the final against hosts Australia from 7.30 a.m. At 7:30 a.m. Ajla Tomljanović will face Angelique Kerber in the first singles.