Kerber's first win since return helps Germany into United Cup final

Former world number one Angelique Kerber claimed a first victory since her return from maternity leave which helped Germany into the United Cup final with a highly dramatic 2-1 victory over hosts Australia which was completed early Sunday.

Kerber saved two match points in a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7), comeback victory over Ajla Tomljanovic in the opening rubber in Sydney.

Alex de Minaur levelled at 1-1 by handing Alexander Zverev a first defeat of the tournament, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. De Minaur had earlier in the week also won against world number one Novak Djokovic.

But Zverev and Laura Siegemund then also saved match points in the final set match tie-break to triumph 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (2-7), 15-13 over Storm Hunter and Matthew Ebden.

"We are very happy, we still have an opportunity to win the tournament," Zverev said, adding in the direction of Siegemund (and Kerber): "She saved my arse."

The concluding mixed doubles rubber didn't start until midnight and lasted 2:19 hours, giving the Germans little time to recover for Sunday's final against top seeds Poland with their stars Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurcacz.

Kerber failed to serve out the match against Tomljanovic serving at 6-5 in the third set, and then needed to save the two match points in the deciding tie-break before clinching victory on her first opportunity.

"For me, it's the first singles win after coming back and it's really a great feeling," Kerber said.

Kerber had lost her first three singles matches at the tournament which was her first since the summer of 2022. She gave birth to a daughter last February.

Success came a week before the start of the Australian Open where she won the first of her three grand slam titles in 2016.

"I just tried to play as many matches as possible before going to Melbourne. I tried to learn from my last three matches," she said.

"Coming out here and winning such a tough battle means a lot to me. It means a lot to have a match like this before going to the Australian Open."

Poland beat France 3-0 in the other semi-final.

Hurkacz defeated Adrian Mannarino, 6-3, 7-5, Swiatek rallied to beat Caroline Garcia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, and Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski won, 6-3, 6-3, over Elixane Lechemia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

“I’m happy that I came back and I didn’t make so many mistakes as in the first set. For sure, Caro was putting pressure as usual, so I’m happy that we’re through to the final,” Swiatek said.