In a focus match of Group E in the Perth division of the United Cup held on December 30th, Beijing time, the Chinese team faced off against the reigning champions, Germany. In the second women's singles match, Chinese player Gao Xin-yu, who replaced Zheng Qinwen, fought through three sets to defeat German veteran Siegemund 2-1, leveling the total score for the Chinese team at 1-1.
With this point, the Chinese team has secured their place in the United Cup quarter-finals for the second consecutive year. The opponent for the quarter-finals will depend on the results of the upcoming mixed doubles match. If they can defeat Germany, they will secure the top spot in the group and face Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals; if they finish as the best second-place team, they will likely face the first-place team from Group A, which is probably the United States.
[World Rankings]
Gao Xin-yu is currently ranked 175th in the world, while Siegemund is ranked 80th. As a doubles specialist, Siegemund has won the year-end finals women's doubles championship and the French Open mixed doubles championship. Although her singles level is not considered world-class, her experience as a seasoned veteran makes her a formidable opponent.
[Match History]
The two have never faced each other before. In the first round, Gao Xin-yu stunned the world by defeating Brazilian star Maria, ranked 17th in the world, after a grueling 3 hours and 22 minutes, winning 2-1. This was also the first time in her career that she defeated a TOP20 player.
[Match Review]
In the first set, Gao Xin-yu broke serve in the second game and quickly established a 3-0 lead. In the sixth game, she broke Siegemund's serve again. Then, in the seventh game, she saved two break points in her own serve-to-win set and held serve tenaciously to win the first set 6-1.
In the second set, Siegemund found her form, breaking Gao Xin-yu's serve twice in the second and fourth games to build a commanding 4-0 lead. Although Gao Xin-yu managed to break back twice to close the gap to 3-4, she was broken again in her own service game in the eighth game. In the ninth game, despite creating two break points, Gao Xin-yu ultimately allowed Siegemund to hold serve, and Siegemund took the set 6-3 to level the match.
In the decisive third set, Gao Xin-yu started perfectly, breaking serve twice in the second and fourth games to establish a 4-0 lead. Although Siegemund broke back once to close the gap to 2-4, in the crucial seventh game, Gao Xin-yu held serve tenaciously to bring the score to 5-2. In the ninth game, Gao Xin-yu successfully won her serve-to-win match, taking the decisive set 6-3 and thus defeating Siegemund 2-1, leveling the total score for the Chinese team at 1-1.
[Next Match]
In the third mixed doubles match, Gao Xin-yu will partner with Bai Yan to face the combination of Siegemund and Zverev. If the Chinese team can win, they will surpass the defending champions Germany to secure the top spot in the group and advance.