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Boris Becker and Alexander Zverev in Trier
Photo:
IMAGO/Paul Zimmer
Supported by tennis legend Boris Becker, Alexander Zverev got the German Davis Cup team back on track.
The Olympic champion defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-1 in Trier on Friday evening, giving Germany the equalizer in the qualifying match against Switzerland.
At the start, Oscar Otte lost 6:2, 2:6, 4:6 to Swiss number one Marc-Andrea Hüsler.
The man from Cologne remains without a win in the Davis Cup.
Zverev started nervously against Warinka, but then found his way into the game and secured the first set with a late break.
In the second round, Zverev served dominantly and again took the serve from the Swiss early on.
Wawrinka could no longer keep up with Zverev's increased pace - the German number one didn't let anything burn, but in the end needed five match balls.
At the Australian Open in January, Zverev failed in the second round against the American Michael Mmoh.
Before that, however, he was out for a long time because he was seriously injured against Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon in June 2022.
At that time he twisted his ankle and tore seven ligaments.
DTB team needs three wins to progress
On Saturday from 1 p.m. the doubles are scheduled for which Andreas Mies and Tim Pütz are scheduled for the German side.
Then Zverev plays against Hüsler before Otte and Wawrinka face each other.
However, changes are still possible.
The German Tennis Association (DTB) team needs three wins to progress.
Becker, who took a seat at Deutsche Bank, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a London court at the end of April for failing to properly declare parts of his assets in his bankruptcy proceedings.
He was released in mid-December after 231 days behind bars.
In Trier, the three-time Wimbledon winner also wants to hold talks with the German Tennis Association about possible cooperation in the future.
kjo/dpa