De Minaur beats Zverev to crack top 10 but Australia out of United Cup
Alex de Minaur was down 30-40, locked at 2-2 in the second set having already lost the first. He really, really needed a cheap point. To keep Australia in with a chance of making the United Cup final. To keep himself in with a chance at becoming a top-10 player by Monday. He pumped his next serve down to Alexander Zverev and the German, stretching for his return, caught the ball on the frame of his racquet. The graphite popped it high into the air, leaving Zverev with nothing to do but wait for it to come back down and then watch as members of the crowd fell over each other to catch it. The resulting deuce was the first of six in this game, an 11-minute mini-marathon inside the full distance that was this three-set feather in de Minaur’s cap. It is a nice cap – a clean white ASICS visa that gives off slightly preppy vibes and pairs well with the squeak of his shoes. There was a lot of chanting and cheering inside Ken Roswell Arena on Saturday night – Rebel Wilson was chief among them f...
