United Cup: Kerber gets first win in return from maternity leave

Former world number one Angelique Kerber saved two match points as she claimed a first victory since her return from maternity leave, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7), over Ajla Tomljanovic in the United Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Kerber's victory in 2 hours 34 minutes in Sydney gave Germany a 1-0 lead over hosts Australia.

But the tie will be decided in the concluding mixed doubles, after 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.

Kerber failed to serve out the match against Tomljanovic serving at 6-5, 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."

The winner of the Germany v Australia tie face Poland with their stars Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz in Sunday's final, after the top seeds beat France in the other semi.

Hurkacz defeated Adrian Mannarino, 6-3, 7-5, and Swiatek rallied to beat Caroline Garcia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

“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.