ATP Cup: Zverev and Struff make victory over Canada clear after the individual
Germany won its opening game at the ATP Cup in 2021. Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexander Zverev narrowly won their individual games.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 03, 2021, 05:39 am
Struff beat Milos Raonic 7: 5, 7: 5, then Alexander Zverev won against Denis Shapovalov after just under three hours with 6: 7 (5), 6: 3, 7: 6 (4).
Shapovalov handed a mini-break in the tie-break of the first round, until then only Zverev had a break ball at 5: 5 - which Shapovalov had destroyed with an ace. Round two was more competitive in the games: Zverev managed the break to 3: 1, he then managed an eight-minute service game after defending two break chances for the Canadian by 5: 2 and then equalized the set.
In the decisive set, Zverev was closer to the break: He had seven chances, three of them 15:40, but Shapovalov played under pressure, controlled offensively. In the tie-break, the Canadian managed the early mini-break when Zverev served a second serve at more than 200 km / h, but he missed a good opportunity to make it 4-1. That should take revenge: Zverev equalized to 3: 3 and made the victory for Germany clear with two aces.
Here you can read the Zverev match in the ticker.
Struff with strong tie breaks
Jan-Lennard Struff (ATP No. 37) had previously made a great performance for the 1-0 lead. Against Milos Raonic (ATP No. 15), Struff unpacked the best tennis in the two tiebreaks, always took the lead early and could not be taken away.
While neither player wobbled on his own serve in set one, the Warsteiner managed a break early in round 2, which he gave up again immediately, and then missed five chances to make it 5: 3. "I played two very good tiebreaks and I'm very happy," said Struff afterwards.
Here you can read Struff's victory in the ticker.
Italy are already in the semi-finals
In Group C, meanwhile, Italy has made it clear to the semi-finals. Fabio Fognini beat Benoit Paire 6: 1, 7: 6 (2), then Matteo Berrettini confirmed his strong form from the Thiem victory and beat Gael Monfils 6: 4, 6: 2.
Italy will meet the winner of Group B (Spain, Australia or Greece).
ATP Cup 2021: All information, schedule, TV, players, prize money