Germany stuns Australia to retain their World Group status – Davis Cup 2012
The Germans showed awe-inspiring skills to dominate in both reverse singles rubber and eventually overpowered Australia with a 3-2 win at the Davis Cup World Group Play-off 2012 on Sunday.
Florian Mayer eased past the Australian number one, Bernard Tomic, in straight sets while Cedrik-Marcel Stebe crushed the former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt, with a breadstick to lead their side to glory.
“It’s another frustrating day,” said the Australian veteran in an on-court interview after losing the match. “We have been in this position too many times and we did all the right things and prepared as well as we could have, things did just not go our way
today.”
Mayer made quick in-roads at the Rothenbaum Stadium in Hamburg, Germany. He smoothly kept his entire serves and broke Tomic’s serve in the fifth game, eventually sealing the opener by winning six games to four.
Ranked 25th in the South African Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Rankings, Mayer maintained his intensity in the following set. After breaking the Aussie’s serve twice, he jumped to a 5-1 lead and got the upper hand.
The German plucked his serve once again and clinched the set with a 6-2 score line.
The 28-year-old carried his rhythm in the third set. He got the coveted break in the third game and took a 2-1 lead. Apart from losing his edge in the very next game, the German broke the teenager’s serve again and leaped to a 4-2 lead.
In the fifth rubber, the world number 131 outshined Hewitt in straight sets. He not only avenged his loss at the Australian Open earlier this season but also led his side to glory at red clay court event.
Stebe made a drastic start and after losing his serve twice, he fell at 0-3. However, he not only recovered in the eighth game but got the breakthrough in the last game, eventually bagging the opening set with a 6-4 win.
The 21-year-old went berserk in the second set. He winded up five games in a row through brilliant forehands from his box of tricks. Stebe held his serve once again and pocketed the set with a breadstick.
The high flying German kept momentum sailing in the following set and easily held his entire serves. He broke Hewitt’s serve in the seventh game and pulled out the decider with a 6-4 score line.
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