1:15 p.m
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 6:1
Set conclusion: Gao surprisingly wins the first set 6:1 against Siegemund. The Swabian gets into the field well with her first serve, but can only convert 44% of her first serves into points. In the end, Gao’s three aces and the German’s 14 unforced errors were responsible for the Chinese woman winning the set.
13:14
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 6:1
The Chinese now uses this one set point immediately and benefits again from a forehand cross from Siegemund that is too wide to make it 6:1 in the first set.
13:13
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
With an ace on the touchline, Gao takes advantage and has a set point.
13:13
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
The 27-year-old fends off the breakball again! A backhand cross from Siegemund that is too wide makes it 40:40 again.
13:12
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
And the next break ball for Siegemund after a strong forehand cross to the touchline. Advantage Siegemund!
13:12
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
With an ace on the center line, Gao can fend off the breakball directly and sets up for a deuce.
13:10
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
A strong backhand longline from the Swabian then puts the Asian under pressure and her forehand longline lands behind the baseline for 30 both. Siegemund is then the more active player and gets the 40:30 and a break ball with her backhand longline.
13:08
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
With that, Gao now serves for the match. After a strong first serve, the 27-year-old takes the score 15-0. Siegemund then goes to the net and equalizes both with a forehand longline stop at 15. But the German’s subsequent forehand longline is in the net at 3:30 p.m.
1:07 p.m
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 5:1
But the 27-year-old then uses the second break point and takes the first set 5-1 with a cross ball.
1:06 p.m
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 4:1
However, Siegemund was able to fend off the first break ball after a forehand cross from Gao that was too deep to make it 30:40.
1:05 p.m
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 4:1
But Gao remains the more active player and goes to the net after a forehand from Siegemund that is too short and takes the score 30:15. A forehand longline from the baseline that is too long gives the Chinese woman two more break points.
13:02
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 4:1
Siegemund is now on serve again and then puts her backhand from the net into the net to make it 0:15. But then the service sits on the outside and the German puts both on 15 after a return error.
1:01 p.m
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 4:1
The Asian now uses the second ball and makes it 4:1 in the first set.
1:00 p.m
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:1
But Siegemund is there again and can fend off the ball with her return and put it on deuce. Then the Chinese is there and wins the next ball after a return error from Siegemund.
12:59
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:1
The 1.80 tall Chinese woman then brings her serve strongly to the center line and takes the score to 30:30. The second point in a row also goes to Gao for the match ball.
12:56
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:1
The Chinese now also gets into her service game well and immediately makes it 15-0. Then the 36-year-old German returned to 15 both. Gao then has to go over the second serve and Siegemund goes aggressively on the second serve and gets the score 30:15.
12:55
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:1
The Swabian used the first ball and reduced the score to 1:3 in the first set.
12:54
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:0
Then the 36-year-old has to go over the second serve when the score is 30:15, but she brings the ball into the field and earns two game balls.
12:51
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:0
Siegemund is now getting into her service game well and quickly leads 15-0. A longer rally then develops, which Gao can then win.
12:50
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 3:0
The Chinese now uses her third ball and benefits again from a forehand error from Siegemund into the net. The 1.80 m tall tennis player confirms the break and leads 3-0 in the first set.
12:49
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 2:0
Gao’s second ball doesn’t sit either and her forehand longline flies clearly behind the baseline – 40:40. A forehand cross from Siegemund that is too deep gives the Chinese the next ball.
12:48
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 2:0
The German can fend off the first ball with a backhand longline from the baseline to make it 30:40.
12:47
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 2:0
Now the number 175 in the world has to go over the second serve. She brings the serve into the court and a competitive rally develops. But then Siegemund’s forehand cross is a little too long and Gao has two balls.
12:46
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 2:0
The third point in a row now goes to the 27-year-old. The Chinese makes it 15-0 with a strong serve. Afterwards, the Swabian’s return is strong and Siegemund puts both on 15. With a smash from the net, Gao makes it 30:15.
12:45
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 2:0
Gao uses the first break ball and benefits from a backhand error from Siegemund into the net. This means Gao leads 2-0 in the first set.
12:43
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 1:0
The Swabian then benefits from a forehand cross from the Chinese that is too wide to make it 30:15. A forehand longline from Siegemund gets stuck in the net to make it 30:30. The 36-year-old then tries a stop ball, but the 27-year-old gets a break ball with a strong cross ball.
12:41
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 1:0
The 36-year-old is now serving. The Swabian brings her first serve into the field and then chases the Chinese woman with her backhand cross right to the other side to make it 15:0. After that, Siegemund’s backhand is a little too deep for the 15th.
12:40
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 1:0
The 27-year-old used the first ball and now benefited from a return error by Siegemund to make it 1-0 in the first set.
12:39
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 0:0
Siegemund stays tuned and now benefits from a backhand longline from Gao that is too long to make it 30. The Chinese player wins a game ball with an ace on the halfway line.
12:38
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 0:0
But then Siegemund is there with her forehand cross and takes the score to 15:15. Then Gao has to go over the second serve. She brings the ball into the field and Siegemund’s forehand longline is a little too long.
12:38
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 0:0
The Chinese opened the first set with her serve game. She brings the first serve to the center line and makes it 15:0.
12:30
X. Gao – L. Siegemund 0:0
The players are there and are warming up. It starts in a few minutes.
12:27
First duel between the two players
The two players have never met on the WTA tour. Siegemund is considered the favorite against the Chinese due to her world ranking position. Can the German team get the second win for the German team?
12:23
Gao also with a win
China has also won all three games in the United Cup. The Olympic champion Zheng canceled her participation in the United Cup at short notice and Gao had to step in. The Asians won against Brazil on Friday and Gao was also able to celebrate a narrow 5:7, 6:4 and 7:5 win against Haddad Maia. The 27-year-old was not yet in the top 500 in the world a year and a half ago and it was not until September 2024 that the world number 175 was able to celebrate her first victory on the tour in Hua Hin. What’s going on for Gao today?
12:18
Germany is the defending champion
Last year, Germany won the United Cup title with Alexander Zverev, Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund. The German team wants to attack again this year. Yesterday, Sunday, Germany got their first victory. Zverev, Siegemund and the Siegemund/Pütz duo won all three matches. With three wins, Germany is in second place in Group E with a match rate of around 55%. With a win over China today, the defending champions have already secured their place in the next round. With the 6:3, 1:6 and 6:4 victory over world number 17, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Siegemund caused a little surprise. It was her sixth win against a top 20 player. Now the number 80 in the world goes against the Chinese Xinyu Gao. She is currently number 175 in the world.
12:15
It’s about to start!
Alexander Zverev uses his first match point and wins the first singles 6:0 and 6:2 after losing the set 2:6. This means that Germany is already leading 1-0 in the duel against China. So the second singles between Xinyu Gao and Laura Siegemund can start right away.
11:37
Start is postponed further
The match between Alexander Zverev and Zhizhen Zhang goes into the third set. This means that the start between Laura Siegemund and Xinyu Gao will be pushed back further.
11:26
Good day
Welcome to day two of the 2024/25 United Cup. Laura Siegemund is scheduled to meet the Chinese Xinyu Gao at around 12 p.m., but since the match between Alexander Zverev and Zhizhen Zhang is currently ongoing, the start will be postponed a little.