By Chris Oddo | Friday February 3, 2017
After Philipp Kohlschreiber was upset by Steve Darcis, Germany's Alexander Zverev came through on Friday in Frankfurt.
Photo Source: Davis Cup
He may be a Davis Cup hero someday, and that day may come soon, but for now he’s content with earning his first win at tennis’s ultimate team competition. Alexander Zverev did that in convincing fashion on Friday to bring Germany even with Belgium at Frankfurt.
More: Lorenzi, Seppi Stake Italy to Commanding Lead in Buenos Aires
Zverev dropped his only two rubbers last season against the Czech Republic when the Germans fell 3-2 in World Group first-round action in Hannover.
But the Germans got back into the World Group thanks to a victory over Poland in last September’s World Group Playoff, and they’ll head into the weekend needing to take two out of three from Belgium to get this tie secured.
The Germans are trying to avoid relegation for the first time since 2014 when they reached the quarterfinals and fell to France.
Zverev hammered 17 aces and saved all four break points he faced against Belgium’s World No.143 Arthur de Greef.
“It’s great but we have two really tough days ahead of us,” Zverev said. “It was a little bit of a must-win situation—it’s never easy to come back from two-zero down, but I was very confident.”
Zverev was under pressure and had to bring Germany level because of Steve Darcis’ shock upset of Philipp Kohlschreiber. The World No.58 battled back from a break down in each of the final two sets to give Belgium a surprising 1-0 lead.
Darcis says the match was very important for him. “It’s a great win to beat Philipp, here in Germany,” he said. “The key is to fight. I could see he was a little bit tired so I said ‘Okay, you never know what happens in Davis Cup.’”
Jan-Lennard Struff and Mischa Zverev are set to take on Ruben Bemelmans and Jooris de Loore in the all-important double rubber on Saturday.
Djokovic Gives Serbia 2-0 Lead over Russia
Novak Djokovic, the highest-ranked player in action this Davis Cup weekend, dropped the opening set to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev but rebounded to secure a victory when Medvedev retired while trailing two sets to one on Friday in Nis, Serbia. The World No.2’s victory, coupled with Viktor Troicki’s dramatic five-set win over Karen Khachanov, gives Serbia the 2-0 lead.
Croatia and Spain Split on Day 1
Franko Skugor scored a dramatic, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(6) win over Pablo Carreno Busta to give underdog Croatia an early lead in Osijek. The World No.223 saved three match points in what was only the second Top 50 win of his career.
“It’s definitely the best feeling and the match I enjoyed the most,” Skugor said. “Playing with a home crowd like this—it’s just amazing.”
Roberto Bautista Agut levelled the tie for Spain with a straight-sets win over Ante Pavic.
Other Results
France leads Japan, 2-0, behind wins by Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon.
Australia leads the Czech Republic 2-0 thanks to wins by Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson.
Italy leads Argentina 2-0 behind wins from Paolo Lorenzi and Andreas Seppi.
U.S.A and Switzerland and Canada vs. Great Britain are still underway. With the Americans and the Britons leading 1-0.