Australia have been knocked out of the Davis Cup race after Alexander Zverez’s straight-sets victory over Nick Kyrgios secure Germany passage through to the quarter-finals.
Final score
Nick Kyrgios 2 6 2
Alexander Zverev 6 7 6
It’s a must-win situation for Nick Kyrgios as he looks to keep the first-round Davis Cup tie alive for Australia when he takes on Germany’s world No.5 Alexander Zverev. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1pm (AEDT).
A tough weekend sees Australia trailing two-one coming into the final day of the tie.
Two five-set losses are never easy to take, with Zverev beating debutant Alex De Minaur in a five-set classic on the opening day, before the doubles went in the favour of Germany in what was a crucial loss for Australia.
Nick Kyrgios handed the Australians the second rubber to tie it at one-all at the end of the first day, but he has it all to do in the opening match of Day 3.
It’s been a good match-up for Kyrgios in the past though. In five meetings, he has beaten Zverev on four occasions and given the way he lifts for Davis Cup, he goes into this as favourite.
Zverev hasn’t been in amazing form either. He was knocked out of the Australian Open in the third round and really struggled at times against De Minaur on Friday.
Spending almost four hours on court won’t help his cause either with fatigue likely to play a role in this fourth rubber of the tie.
Zverev made a lot of unforced errors throughout the course of the contest against De Minaur and while he has plenty of power from the baseline and good skills at the net, his constant inability to stay ahead of the contest was a concern.
While his serving got him through a fifth set tie breaker, he doesn’t have an advantage in serving here.
The best shot in the repertoire of Kyrgios is the serve. He has accuracy like none seen on the ATP tour since Pete Sampras and his second serve is deadly. Breaking his serve has proven almost impossible throughout the summer with Kyrgios knocked out of the Australian Open in three tie breakers.
While Kyrgios will have trouble returning the Zverev serve, if he gets a look at enough second serves, his attitude of slapping winners will allow him to break and get into points against serve.
It’s the power and serve of Kyrgios which makes him such a difficult opponent, as he has proven to be previously for Zverev.
Prediction
Kyrgios has liked this match-up previously and risen in Davis Cup matches before. At home, on a court he has grown to love, Kyrgios should keep the tie alive for Australia in a tough one.
Kyrgios in four sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the fourth rubber between Australia and Germany from 1pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Fionn
Guest
Kyrgios is unfortunately still over reliant on his serve. When he isn't having a great service day he just struggles to really impose himself in matches. I think he really needs a coach to improve his grinding abilities and develop a plan B. Ah well, well done to Germany.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll be it for the weekend. Australia are out of the Davis Cup and Germany are through. Thanks for joining David Holden and myself over the course of the last three days for all the live coverage. Hopefully you enjoyed it, despite the result. Next weekend, it's the Fed Cup. Riley Pettigrew will be live from Saturday, 11am (AEDT) as the Australian women battle the Ukraine. After that, The Roar will have live coverage of the NRL, AFL, Super Rugby, A-League, NBL finals, Australia's cricket tour of South Africa and much, much more. There is a stack of sport coming up, so be sure to keep it locked in at The Roar. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the weekend Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GERMANY WIN! GAME, SET, MATCH, ALEXANDER ZVEREV Well, that was the best performance Alexander Zverev has put in all year. Kyrgios puts a forehand wide after a great return of serve and that was an incredibly disappointing display from Kyrgios. He just never got into the match. Sure his wrist was sore, but that was not good enough. Zverev was just superb though. Kyrgios has done it a few times in the last six months - bringing the best out in other players - David Goffin in Belgium last year, Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open and now Zverev. Anyway, Germany will travel to either Great Britain or Spain in the quarter-finals while Australia have to wait for the zone groups to be decided to find out who they will play in the World Group Playoffs during September. Nick Kyrgios 2 6 2 Alexander Zverev 6 7 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve returned with great depth, then it's a longer rally up and down the centre. Zverev goes up the line though and Kyrgios can't get there. Two match points for Germany to take the tie. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 15 Zverev 6 7 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault. The second is down the T and Zverev sends a backhand long in return. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 15 Zverev 6 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kyrgios. The next is hit to the corner of the service box, but then Kyrgios puts a forehand long. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 0 Zverev 6 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios to serve, trying to stay in the match. He rolls one in at the body and is immediately under pressure, eventually putting a forehand into the net. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 0 Zverev 6 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Zverev has just served amazingly well today. Best he has played all summer and this is another hold of serve. Germany are one game away from victory. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - Zverev 6 7 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Swinging serve down the T and Kyrgios punches the forehand return long. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 15 Zverev 6 7 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great power from Kyrgios. Gets up to the net and puts the overhead away through the court. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 15 Zverev 6 7 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
That was shaping as a good point from Kyrgios, but on the run this time, he puts the forehand wide up the line. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 0 Zverev 6 7 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Zverev to serve. Goes wide, then inside out on the next ball and Kyrgios can't get it back over. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - 0 Zverev 6 7 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kyrgios. The second is returned with depth on the backhand before Kyrgios plays a shot from the ground down the line and holds serve. Kyrgios 2 6 2 - Zverev 6 7 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Out wide. Kyrgios 2 6 1 - 40 Zverev 6 7 4 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve down the T. Zverev stabs the return with depth, then comes to the net and can't get to the passing forehand. Kyrgios 2 6 1 - 30 Zverev 6 7 4 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios to serve. Fault, then one at the body and it's returned long on the backhand. Kyrgios 2 6 1 - 15 Zverev 6 7 4 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Zverev. The second is returned well, but Kyrgios on the run and puts a backhand wide. Zverev capitalises and has Germany two games away from the quarter-finals. Kyrgios 2 6 1 - Zverev 6 7 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve down the T and it's returned wide by Kyrgios. Kyrgios 2 6 1 - 15 Zverev 6 7 3 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault, then a short return. Zverev puts the winner away crosscourt. Kyrgios 2 6 1 - 15 Zverev 6 7 3 - 30