Hopman Cup: Zverev loses – Mixed decides on final entry

Alexander Zverev (20) has missed his first chance to reach the final of the Hopman Cup in Perth. The world number four from Hamburg lost surprisingly 7-5,6-7 (4-7), 4-6 to Thanasi Kokkinakis from Australia in the final group match. Angelique Kerber (29) led the German duo 6-1,6-2 against Daria Gavrilova.

In the Mixed, Zverev and Kerber need a win to face Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic against Switzerland in the final on Saturday (7:00 a. m. CET). The only German winners in Perth so far were Michael Stich and Steffi Graf 1993 as well as Boris Becker and Anke Huber 1995.

Kerber had already won in Perth against the Belgian Elise Mertens (7:6,7:6) and the former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard from Canada (6:1,6:3) in two sets. The 29-year-old is preparing for the Australian Open in Melbourne for the first time at the Mixed Tournament (from 15. January) which she had won in 2016. Zverev had his second defeat in his third match. Last year he had beaten Federer in Perth.