De Minaur Stuns Djokovic
The tie between Australia and Serbia got underway with the men’s singles matchup between Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic.
World number one Djokovic was a heavy favourite coming in have won his last 43 matches on Australian soil; a number that dates all the way back to 2018.
However, De Minaur, ranked twelfth in the world, had a different idea. It was immediately apparent that the match would be no walk in the park for Novak as De Minaur was playing quality tennis in the opening games, limiting mistakes, and capitalizing on opportunities.
The pair went back and forth until midway through the set when Djokovic called for a trainer to work on a right wrist ailment which he had dealt with in Serbia’s previous tie with the Czech Republic.
Not long after, De Minaur was able to find the matches first break and take a 5-4 set lead. He would go on to consolidate his break and take the set.
Set two again was tight but this time, De Minaur was able to break earlier, to take a 4-3 lead. He wouldn’t give this up as he went on to win the set 6-4 and in turn the match.
De Minaur played phenomenally in the victory having won 33/34 of his first serve points in the match en route to his first ever victory over a world no.1.
Tomljanovic has Her Breakthrough
Ajla Tomljanovic has had a difficult United Cup run thus far having lost both of her matches to date. However, given she missed nearly all of 2023 due to a knee injury, some growing pains are to be expected. She played much improved tennis in her second match of the tournament and looked to build on that against Serbia.
Taking on the world no.184 Natalija Stevanovic, Tomljanovic was aggressive from the start. She found a break in just Stevanovic’s second service game and didn’t look back from their as she took the set 6-1.
The second set was much of the same as Tomljanovic again took an early break and dominated the Serbian. 6-1, 6-1 was the final score and the win sent Australia through to the semi-finals.
Mixed Doubles Continues to be a strength
Australia’s mixed doubles pairing of Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden weren’t in the high pressure situation in this tie that they had been in against the USA as Australia were already through with the two singles wins.
However, this duo didn’t let that affect their play as they were phenomenal again, pushing their record to 3-0 thus far at the tournament.
Hunter and Ebden were able to comfortably take each set 6-3 to give the Aussie team their first clean sweep of the tournament.
Australia will now Face Germany in the Semi-final
The sweep of Serbia left Australia awaiting the winner of Greece vs. Germany to see who their semi-final counterpart would be.
Thanks to a singles victory from Alexander Zverev and a mixed doubles win from he and Laura Siegemund, it was Germany who took the tie 2-1.
De Minaur will be in for another tough match as he will battle world no.7 Alex Zverev.
Ajla Tomljanovic will be looking for her second win of the tournament against former world number one Angelique Kerber.
The mixed doubles matchup will see Australia’s unbeaten duo of Hunter and Ebden likely take on Laura Siegemund and Alex Zverev in a matchup that favours the Aussies.
