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Tennis: Australia’s 2024 United Cup campaign has come to a close as their semi opponents Germany have eventually swooped the trophy v Poland in Sydney

by Sports Benches

Oh so close but what a run though by the Aussies after they were unfortunately eliminated from the United Cup semi-finals in the early hours of Sunday morning by Germany, having lost the mixed deciding doubles match 1-2.

Ajla Tomjlanovic fired off really well in the first set, but couldn’t find a way to kick on and hold Angelique Kerber back who was amazing from the set down to bring home a two-set win at the tiebreak (6-4, 2-6 & 6-7 – 7-9 tie). Meanwhile, Alex De Minaur gave the home fans so much hope to keep that run alive. He too bounced back from that close opening set loss with the win v Alexander Zverev (5-7, 6-3, 6-4) to level the semi-final series at 1-1 for Australia where his individual brilliance on the court will see him being ranked World No.10 in the ATP ladder next week. Let’s hope he can have the best Australian Open campaign yet starting next Sunday.

The tables have then turned on Storm Hunter & Matt Ebden to bring it home against Zverev again & Laura Siegemund for a spot to face Poland in the Final who defeated France the other day in a 3-0 whitewash. Now this was such an unreal deciding mixed doubles tie to watch, even though it did go past midnight. They all won each set in the first two (Germany in Stage 1 & Australia in Stage 2) before it went all the way through the best of 10 as Zverev’s decision to stay on has paid off for Germany that broke the hearts of the Aussie team & their fans itself on home turf at Ken Rosewall Arena. The final score was 6-2 – 2-7 tie, 7-6 – 7-2 tie & 13-15.

And speaking on Team Germany, they too have went on to become this year’s United Cup Champions after USA. Yes, these series of finals ties v Poland did end up going just past midnight but gotta say that Zverev has saved the day once again. 

Now He almost lost the match and even the final at one stage by Hubert Hurkacz after Iga Swiatek was too for Kerber (6-3, 6-0) earlier in the evening before he kept his country’s hopes alive going into the championship-winning doubles decider after three hours of play (7-6 with 7-3 tie, 6-7 with 6-8 tie & 4-6). Not only he and Siegmund has played really well right through the every end v Swiatek and Hurkacz again, but they too found both the finish line & the United Cup trophy via the final set tiebreak (4-6, 7-5 & 4-10).

All that’s left to come this week is the Adelaide International, Kooyong Classic, Women’s Hobart International & Men’s Auckland ASB Classic in New Zealand before the main event arrives for the Australian Open at Melbourne Park that will take 15 days beginning on Sunday.

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Tennis News, Thanasi Kokkinakis has just helped Australia clinch a 2022 Davis Cup finals berth after he defeated Zsombor Piros in straight sets

by Sports Benches

Thanasi Kokkinakis has done it for Australia having just defeated Zsombor Piros in straight sets, Australia just wrapped up a 3-2 series win following the best of five match-ups v Hungary in the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers at Ken Rosewall Arena. That means Australia has now punched their ticket for the Finals later this year, where they join 17 other qualified teams to battle it out for the Davis Cup title.

Kokkinakis was relieved to come out unscathed following a close battle with Piros for the whole time that determined the series result for his country, Australia. He fired off well with the early lead, then he was tested on occasions where Piros fought back as this deciding tie goes on. However, it’s all about persistence, having taken his time wisely thanks to the first set lead advantage, that helped Kokkinakis play a huge part in Australia’s series decider win v Hungary.

Meanwhile, Piros would be disappointed with the loss even though he has been a great opponent to face. We love how he made up some lost time during the second-half run in each spell, having almost brought in the tiebreaker that can give him an extended shot to try & stay in this game. He left it too late when Piros lacked the first-half momentum & fell behind along the way, in which he was let down in this area while trying to hold back Kokkinakis.

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Tennis News, Alex De Minaur levels 2-2 for Australia with one deciding tie to spare after he overcame a competitive singles duel v Marton Fucsovics

by Sports Benches

Wow! How good is Alex De Minaur! He just defeated Marton Fucsovics in such terrific fashion after a tight encounter with a straight-sets win at Ken Rosewall Arena, as Australia level 2-2 v Hungary with the 5th and deciding singles tie left to go.

Both players played so well when they were neck in neck for that opening set lead, but De Minaur got there first via the tiebreaker before he overcame another tough duel & held off Fucsovics that wowed the home crowd supporters by his side.

Final Score: 7-6 via 7-4 tiebreaker, 6-4

Fucsovics didn’t get the win he deserves through two hours of play on the court today v De Minaur. He got the build-up base going where the Hungarian was on the same page as the Aussie for the whole time, which helped him stay on top of his game. He just couldn’t group himself when Fucsovics was under immense pressure while trying to overtake & hold off De Minaur, and De Minaur spotted his one huge weakness that saw the Australian escape in both sets.

And going back to De Minaur, it’s incredible to see him save Australia’s hopes alive in their 2022 Davis Qualifier v Hungary on home soil after four ties out of five. He never gave up with so much fight under his belly, having been on the same page as Fucsovics. It gave him some time to get on top of his opponent before De Minaur re-setted the momentum via the tiebreak, got himself past the opening set & persisted in that fight, as Australian No.1 was able to maintain his path towards victory.

Australia is turning their attention to Thanasi Kokkinakis for the 5th and deciding tie v Zsombor Piros right now, with the Davis Cup Finals place up for grabs later this year if Kokkinakis can wrap up a 3-2 series win.

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Hungary lead Australia 2-1 in the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers after Fabian Marozsan & Mate Valkusz just defeated John Peers & Luke Saville in straight sets

by Sports Benches

W ow! We just saw Fabian Marozsan & Mate Valkusz upset Australia’s John Peers and Luke Saville in this solitary doubles match-up, as Hungary now leads 2-1 in the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers with two singles games left at Ken Rosewall Arena.

It was a tight game though when both countries were side by side for the opening set lead, but it’s Hungary who got ahead and held back Australia going into the second set before they kept the momentum, found the homestretch & wrapped it up in straight sets (4-6, 4-6).

Commiserations for Peers and Saville when they fought back a few games in a bid to stay in contention. However, a poor start saw them fall behind where they just couldn’t find a way past Hungary, while leaving out to hold back Marozsan/Valkusz until the last minute in both sets.

And hats off to Marozsan and Valkusz for their persistence against these two experienced opponents. They simply focused on one thing at a time that reflected Hungary’s 1st set lead earlier on v Peers/Saville. It gave them some time and patience to hold the Aussies off defensively, as it puts them on a confidence booster going into the second set where Marozsan/Valkusz wrapped up this game with the win.

Next up is Alex De Minaur v Marton Fucsovics in this 4th of 5th match-up between Australia v Hungary. De Minaur desperately needs a win if Australia was to level 2-2 going into the fifth and final singles match today (Thanasi Kokkinakis v Zsombor Piros) in the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers.

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Tennis News, Marton Fucsovics levels Australia 1-1 for Hungary after Day 1 of the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers at Ken Rosewall Arena

by Sports Benches

Hungary has just fought back v Australia 1-1 in the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers after Day 1 tonight at Ken Rosewall Arena. Good start from Marton Fucsovics and Thanasi Kokkinakis, where both players fought very hard during a very competitive first set that went down the wire via the tiebreak. Fucsovics won that tiebreak and led 1-0 going into the second set, but Kokkinakis fought back comfortably at 1-1 apiece, with this match-up not over yet towards the third and final set decider. In the end, Fucsovics managed to find his way past Kokkinakis and held him off with the win for his country, Hungary.

Final Score: 6-7 via 4-6 tiebreaker, 6-1, 3-6.

Unlucky for Kokkinakis, who did well to catch up Fucsovics & not give him a free run. He fired the pressure well back to his opponent, especially in the 2nd set that reflected his fightback, as it gave him another chance to redeem himself ahead of the final set spell. But it’s not just his night tonight when Kokkinakis struggled to overtake & hold off Fucsovics, where Fucsovics exposed him in the opening set tiebreak & 3rd set decider, and that sums up his loss in this match-up.

Meanwhile, brilliant play by Fucsovics with the win in this second singles tie v Kokkinakis for Hungary. He did well to move past his opponent earlier on and took his time while leading, where Fucsovics overcame Kokkinakis during the 1st set tiebreak. Now he may have missed the chance to close out in straight sets when he was tied 1-1 after the second set, but Fucsovics knew one thing Kokkinakis wasn’t good at where the Hungarian eventually beat him to the punch, which is taking over and holding off the lead.

Two matches gone, three to go tomorrow with one doubles tie plus two more singles games up for grabs in the best of five in the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers, between Australia v Hungary at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Tomorrow’s schedule from 1 pm

Doubles: John Peers & Luke Saville for Australia v Marton Fucsovics & Fabian Marozsan.

Two Singles matches: Alex De Minaur (Australia) v Marton Fucsovics (Hungary), Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia) v Zsombor Piros (Hungary).

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Tennis News, Alex De Minaur off to a great start v Zsombor Piros as Australia lead Hungary 1-0 in the Day 1 of the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers

by Sports Benches

Great start by the Aussies v Hungary on Day 1 of the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers at Ken Rosewall Arena. It was a competitive opening set spell between Australian No.1 Alex De Minaur and Zsombor Piros. However, it’s De Minaur who just narrowly escaped Piros with the early lead before he wrapped up comfortably in straight sets (7-5, 6-2).

Piros would be disappointed with the loss there. He tested De Minaur well that held the Aussie back on occasions, and he almost put in a tiebreaker that would’ve given the Hungarian a great chance to build on from his opening set performance. He just couldn’t give himself a bit more time when Piros made up some lost time, then a close first set loss threw him an even tougher challenge after the break & was unable to find a way out ever since.

And hats off to De Minaur with the win that gifted Australia a 1-0 lead after this first singles match-up. We love how he stuck to his game & never gave up battling while facing a decent opponent like Piros in the first set. Thankfully, he overcame a close battle unscathed when it comes to the executions before De Minaur smashed this game with confidence.

Next up is Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia) v Marion Fucsvovics (Hungary) in the second singles match of the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers series between Australia v Hungary.

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