Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber led Team Germany on a spectacular cruise on Sydney Harbour Thursday ahead of the start of the United Cup.
The German stars were joined by teammates Tatjana Maria, Maximilian Marterer, Laura Siegemund, Kai Wehnelt and captain Torben Beltz.
“It was a great experience. We all enjoyed it; it was great to do something different,” Kerber said of the outing.
Looking ahead to her first tournament back since maternity leave, she said, “I’m feeling good, I’m feeling excited. For me coming back and starting here in Australia is really special. I love the country and looking forward. Starting with the United Cup and the team even nicer for me, I’m really looking forward.”
Zverev, who is looking to build on his remarkable 2023 comeback season following his catastrophic ankle injury at Roland Garros in 2022, said that the team was aware of the challenges awaiting it in Group D.
“To start off with we have Italy and France, who are two are two big tennis nations, who have had great success over the past few years as well. In the team competition, France has always been up there and Italy has just won the Davis Cup. We have a difficult group but we are also part of that difficult group with them as well, and hopefully we come out of it.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Kerber and Zverev, No. 7 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will spearhead the German team, which will face Team Italy on the opening day of the Sydney Group Stage on Saturday 30 December from 5.30pm AEDT.
Team Germany will then face Team France on New Year’s Day, from 5.30pm AEDT.
The United Cup marks Kerber’s return to tennis after taking 18 months maternity leave.
