While Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who sandwich him in the ATP rankings, have decided to start their 2025 season directly at the Australian Open, Alexander Zverev is on the move from the United Cup while 2024 does not has not yet come to an end. The world number 2 was on deck on Sunday in Perth with the German team, against Brazil, and he made his contribution by winning in straight sets against Thiago Monteiro, 6-4, 6-4, in 77 minutes.
Among the satisfactions for the German, the fact of not having conceded a single break point in the entire game. A break in each set was enough for him to take cover. A very quiet first victory for Sascha Zverev, which allows Germany to validate its success against Brazil since, previously, Laura Siegemund had given the first point to her team against Beatriz Haddad Maia (6-3, 1- 6, 6-4). Germany is also the defending champion of this United Cup. She won at the start of 2024 in the final against Poland with Zverev and Siegemund already in charge.
Ruud-Macac, hell of a fight
In the other match this Sunday, the Czech Republic defeated Norway (2-1) by winning the decisive doubles, won by the mixed pair Karolina Muchova – Tomas Machac. The latter had just lost in singles against Casper Ruud after a hell of a fight lasting almost three hours. Enough to put the two men in the thick of things from this first match of the season. It was one of the most exciting duels of this first round on the men's side.
A good first test for Casper Ruud and the match did not disappoint, with an intensity worthy of the Australian Open more than the United Cup. Winner in three sets (7-6, 5-7, 6-4), Ruud finally hopes to shine in Melbourne in January. Between his last minute package two years ago and two successive early eliminations (2nd round in 2023, 3rd round in 2024), the Norwegian, who took advantage of the off-season to get married, wants to take a step to the antipodes. It's a good first step.
