Perth: Kazakhstan secured a spot in the United Cup semifinals as it knocked out the defending champions Germany with a 2-0 unassailable lead in the quarterfinal tie on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Alexander Shevchenko rallied to defeat Daniel Masur 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 in a physical battle in Perth, moving Kazakhstan to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the quarterfinal tie after Elena Rybakina’s commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over Laura Siegemund in the first match of the tournament’s knockout stages.
Masur had come in to replace World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who withdrew due to a bicep strain but was unable to forge a memorable upset to keep Germany alive.
“I’m really proud that I found this win for our team, because I was fighting hard. I saw the faces of my team, and they didn’t want to go to a decider. I was also a little bit nervous, because I knew if I won, the tie was over,” Shevchenko said.
Kazakhstan will travel to Sydney for the semifinals. It was knocked out of the United Cup on tournament debut in 2023 with a 0-2 record, but now has the chance to reach the title tilt.
Meanwhile, Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek clinched Poland’s place atop Group B on Wednesday, defeating Czechia’s Tomas Machac and Karolina Muchova 7-6(3), 6-3 to seal the critical tie 2-1 and a place in the quarterfinal of the United Cup.
Machac had moved Czechia to the brink of the quarterfinals at the start of the tie with a tense 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win against Hurkacz, before Iga Swiatek forced the deciding mixed doubles with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4 victory over Muchova.
Hurkacz delivered his duo’s 11th ace of the match to emerge victorious after one hour and 25 minutes. The Poles broke serve five times from 11 chances against the Czechs.
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz powered the U.S., tournament winner two years ago, into the semifinals on Wednesday. In the first singles match in Perth, Gauff got the ball rolling for her team with a gritty 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over Zhang Shuai. Fritz then made sure of victory by edging a tight contest with Zhang Zhizhen 6-4 6-4. Agencies
Also Read: Auckland Open: Rain break helps Osaka overcome nerves to reach quarters
Also Watch: