Kazakhstan is into the United Cup semifinals for the first time. Elena Rybakina and Alexander Shevchenko notched singles victories at RAC Arena in Perth on New Year’s Day, winning their quarterfinal tie 2-0 over defending champion Germany.
Rybakina started the day with a powerful 6-3, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the first match of the tournament’s knockout stages. World No.6 Rybakina took 65 minutes to defeat 80th-ranked Siegemund.
“Feeling better on the court and physically also,” Rybakina said afterwards. “It was a long trip. It’s not easy at the beginning but really happy with the performance and really looking forward to the next match.”
All the guys are pretty funny and it’s nice to play a team competition,” Rybakina said. “It’s so rare that we get a chance to do that. I’m so happy to be here and also the first time in Perth. I really like everything.”
In the second match, Shevchenko secured Kazakhstan’s spot in the semifinals. The 24-year-old rallied to defeat Daniel Masur 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 in a physical battle, moving Kazakhstan to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the quarterfinal tie.
Masur had come in to replace World No.2 Alexander Zverev, who withdrew due to a bicep strain, but was unable to forge a memorable upset to keep Germany alive.
“It was a struggle in this heat, he made me run a lot, he was more aggressive,” Shevchenko said after the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. “That’s why I got tired, my head was spinning.
“I’m really proud that I found this win for our team, because I was fighting hard. I saw the faces of my team, and they didn’t want to go to a decider. I was also a little bit nervous, because I knew if I won, the tie was over.”
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