Germany managed to release its ATP Cup win record on Tuesday after the opening day defeat to Great Britain. Alexander Zverev was once again the German benchmark to defeat the United States, who arrived euphoric after their 3-0 victory over Canada, 2-1.
However, the Americans’ victory in the doubles keeps them ahead in the standings.
The tie began with a vibrant match in which Jan-Lennard Struff managed to overcome the gunner John Isner in a duel between servers (Struff got 18 direct aces for Isner’s 34) by 7-6 (7), 4-6 and 7-5.
A serve effectiveness that was evident in the first set, in which Struff prevailed in the tiebreaker before Isner took the second set and Struff took the match with the only break ball that he used in the deciding game.
Then the number one German and three in the world came on the scene, Alexander Zverev, wanting to give him the first German tie. And boy did he.
The German, very solid with his serve as in defense (he saved the four break balls he faced) and very aggressive to the rest (he converted his two break options), beat American Taylor Fritz by a double 6-4 to add his second singles victory in the tournament.
However Germany’s joy could not be complete as a duo formed by Taylor Fritz and John Isner swept away the German couple formed by Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-0, 6-3. A defeat that allows the United States to remain ahead of Germany in the Group C standings.