Alexander Shevchenko secured Kazakhstan’s spot in the United Cup semi-finals Wednesday as it knocked out the defending champions Germany.
The 24-year-old rallied to defeat Daniel Masur 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 in a physical battle in Perth, moving Kazakhstan to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the quarter-final 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.”
TEAM KAZAKHSTAN ARE GOING TO SYDNEY ✈️
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 1, 2025
Shevchenko seals with sweet semifinal deal 6-7 [5-7] 6-2 6-2 🇰🇿#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/ZjB744sd0Z
Kazakhstan will travel to Sydney where it will contest the semi-finals. It was knocked out of the United Cup on tournament debut in 2023 with a 0-2 record, but now has the chance to reach the title tilt.
Shevchenko’s backhand was key to his earlier upset of World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas on Monday, but it deserted him just when he needed it in the first set. Having carved out a set point at 6-5, the 24-year-old blazed a backhand long from Masur’s second serve. Shevchenko was then left to rue the missed opportunity once Masur converted his first set point in the tie-break.
Masur dragged Shevchenko into a physical battle in the first set, coupling looping forehands with crafty slices to lengthen the points. The gruelling nature of the contest appeared to have affected the Kazakhstani, who called for the physio after immediately breaking Masur’s serve in the second set. Yet Shevchenko drastically reduced his unforced error count from 20 in the first set, to 10 in the second and third, to complete an impressive comeback.
World No. 6 Elena Rybakina had earlier put Kazakhstan 1-0 up with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the first match of the tournament’s knockout stages.
“Feeling better on the court and physically also," Rybakina said. "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.”
Former Top 5 doubles player Siegemund is typically sturdy with her all-court craft, but she misfired on a drop shot to hand Rybakina the only break of Wednesday’s first set at 4-2. Rybakina took that opportunity and ran with it, clinching the one-set lead without facing a break point.
In the second set, Rybakina rushed ahead with an early break for 2-1, then withstood two break points in the following game to consolidate. 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina eased home from there, and she now holds a commanding 6-1 head-to-head lead over tour veteran Siegemund.
Second in total aces on tour last year (trailing only Zheng Qinwen), Rybakina fired six aces versus Siegemund on Wednesday. Rybakina won 79 percent of her first-serve points and 67 percent of her second-serve points in the clash.
With the tie wrapped up, Siegemund partnered Tim Puetz to defeat Zhibek Kulambayeva and Dmitry Popko 6-2, 6-2. Although it was of no help in the Germans' bid to advance, Siegemund ensured she finished the week having won each of the three mixed doubles rubbers she contested.
