Fritz dispatches Zverev as USA leads Germany at United Cup
American won 96 per cent of his 1st serve points in match
Taylor Fritz took advantage of a dominant serve to beat Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4 as the United States took an early 1-0 lead over Germany Monday at the United Cup mixed teams event in Sydney.
Ninth-ranked Fritz won 96 per cent (26/27) of first serve points and backed that up with accurate ball-striking to beat 12th-ranked Zverev in 64 minutes.
Fritz raced to an early lead, winning the first five games of the match as he stepped into the court to finish points set up by his serve.
He kept the pressure on to beat Zverev who was playing for only the second time since June when he damaged ligaments in his right ankle during his semifinal against Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
Madison Keys followed Fritz on court and extended the United States' lead to 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Jule Niemeier, her second victory of the season. The match continues Tuesday when Jessica Pegula faces Laura Siegemund and Francis Tiafore meets Oscar Otte. The United States needs a win or a 2-3 loss to progress to the United Cup quarterfinals from Group C.
While Keys served at 77 per cent and lost just six points behind her first serve, Niemeier struggled with the rhythm of her serve and opened with three double faults to give her opponent an early break. Niemeier finished with seven double faults.
"I think overall I played really solid," Keys said. "I just tried to make as many first serves as possible to make things as easy as a tennis match could be."
