Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev got Germany back on track in the Davis Cup duel with Switzerland. After Oscar Otte’s opening defeat, the 25-year-old won 6-4, 6-1 against three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka and equalized 1-1.
The German Tennis Association (DTB) team needs three wins to progress. The German team continues on Saturday from 1 p.m. (sportbild.de/tennischannel.com). In doubles, Andreas Mies and Tim Pütz are expected to meet Alexander Ritschard and Leandro Riedi before Zverev has to face Hüsler in what may already be the decisive third single of the duel.
In front of the eyes of three-time Wimbledon winner Boris Becker, who sat on the German bench, Zverev got into the game after a nervous start and secured the first set with a late break.
“There is no better atmosphere”
In the second round he served dominantly and again took the serve from the Swiss early on. Wawrinka could no longer keep up with Zverev’s increased pace – the German number one didn’t let anything burn, but in the end needed five match balls.
“Full house, full stadium – that’s what makes the Davis Cup special. There is no better atmosphere,” said Zverev afterwards, emphasizing: “We have an incredibly good atmosphere in the team and are always 100 percent there.”
Otte lost a 1-0 lead in the opening game and had to admit defeat against Marc-Andrea Hüsler 6-2, 2-6, 4-6 after a game full of errors. It was the fifth defeat in the fifth Davis Cup match for the man from Cologne.