Few moments in the United Cup\u2019s young history rival the 2024 final between Germany and Poland.<\/p>\n
Iga Swiatek defeated Angelique Kerber, Alexander Zverev saved two match points against Hubert Hurkacz to level the tie, and the Zverev-Laura Siegemund pairing clinched the trophy in a tense mixed doubles decider.<\/p>\n
That chapter set the tone for a rivalry we\u2019ll see again in 2026. Fans in Sydney are guaranteed a long-awaited rematch<\/a>, with Zverev leading Germany for the fourth time \u2013 this time in Group F against Swiatek-led Poland, as well as Team Netherlands.<\/p>\n TICKETS: Support Team Germany in Sydney<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev remains a top-three mainstay after a 57-win campaign in 2025, featuring four finals \u2014 including the Australian Open \u2014 and lifting the ATP 500 trophy in Munich.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist traditionally brings his best to Australia; he dropped just one singles match during Germany\u2019s United Cup 2024 title run and went undefeated in the 2025 group stage before withdrawing injured in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to come back to the United Cup,\u201d the 28-year-old said. \u201cIt\u2019s always special to start the year there. We won in 2024, which was a very special moment with the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Siegemund is expected to reprise her mixed doubles role, and men\u2019s doubles star Kevin Krawietz is also a part of the team, but Germany will also unveil an exciting new talent in world No.40 Eva Lys.<\/p>\n At 23 years old, Lys broke onto the scene at Australian Open 2025, where she went from losing in the qualifying rounds, to being granted a last-minute lucky loser entry into the main draw, where she went all the way to the fourth round<\/a> before bowing out to Swiatek.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways ending my good runs lol,\u201d Lys wrote when she ran into the Polish champion months later in the third round of the Canadian Open. \u201cTried my best, came a little closer this time. We appreciate the small steps.\u201d<\/p>\n Those \u201csmall\u201d steps soon added up. Lys cracked the top 50 with a quarterfinal run at the WTA 1000 China Open, highlighted by a breakthrough win over 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No.5 Elena Rybakina.\u00a0<\/p>\n As results built, fans warmed to her bubbly, accessible personality.<\/p>\n \u201cI enjoy posting, I enjoy showing people a different life as well,\u201d she told Tennis Channel.<\/p>\n \u201cOverall in female sports, there\u2019s this one stigma of how the female athlete is supposed to be\u2026 I\u2019m just trying to show people that as an athlete, as a sister, as a woman, you can have fun outside of the work you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n With a fresh face joining the steely resolve of \u201cSascha\u201d Zverev and Germany\u2019s established core, the team arrives in Sydney with both grit and spark.<\/p>\n