Author: Australian Associated Press

• No 2 seed books spot in last four with four-set win
• German will now face Djokovic in semi-finals

Alexander Zverev has survived an extraordinary meltdown to sink Tommy Paul in four sets and charge into the Australian Open semi-finals.

Second-seeded Zverev, chasing an elusive grand slam title, was almost knocked down by, of all things, a feather before he steadied to prevail 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1. Zverev will next face 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in his third Melbourne Park semi-final.

• Former world No 13 to face Sweden in qualifying tie from 31 January
• De Minaur, Thompson and Kokkinakis also selected in squad

Nick Kyrgios is in line to make a sensational return to Australia’s Davis Cup team for the first time in more than five years. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who’s been taking the first tentative steps on the comeback road after long-standing injuries, is a shock selection by captain Lleyton Hewitt for the qualifying tie in Sweden in Stockholm starting on 31 January.

In the team nominations unveiled on Monday, the 29-year-old’s name in Australia’s four-man outfit raised eyebrows as he’s shown no interest in the men’s “World Cup of tennis” ever since he last played against Belgium in November 2019.

• US beat Czechs, Poland defeat Kazakhstan in Sydney
• Aryna Sabalenka powers past Andreeva in Brisbane
• Naomi Osaka close to ending trophy wait in Auckland

Former champions the United States returned to the final of the United Cup mixed team tournament with a fortuitous victory over the Czech Republic on Saturday and set up a title clash with Poland, who hammered Kazakhstan.

Tomas Machac looked set to draw the Czechs level at 1-1 in their semi-final and was serving for the contest against Taylor Fritz, but an apparent cramp took its toll and he lost three straight games before throwing in the towel at 7-6 (4), 5-6.

• Djokovic double fault at 8-6 disastrous for star pairing
• Kyrgios heads home to ponder Australian Open return

A fluent and upbeat Nick Kyrgios shrugged off the pain in his surgically repaired wrist as his Brisbane International comeback ended in a tight doubles loss.

The Australian fulfilled his promise to play alongside Novak Djokovic in the second-round men’s doubles after a taxing three-set loss to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday night. Such was the battering he took from the big-serving French star, Kyrgios had forecast a rough day for his serving arm and even suggested his scheduled Australian Open return later this month was in doubt.

• Mpetshi Perricard served 36 aces to Kyrgios’s 15 in three-set victory
• Australian backed up from doubles win alongside Novak Djokovic

Nick Kyrgios says he will “need a miracle” to contend for a grand slam title after an injury comeback loss that offered a sobering reality check.

The Australian could only shrug his shoulders as big-serving rising star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard left him with a “throbbing” wrist and crashed his comeback party in the Brisbane International first round on Tuesday.

• Australia defeated 2-1 despite de Minaur’s emphatic 6-1, 6-4 victory
• Australia next United Cup tie is against Great Britain on Tuesday

Australia only have to point to recent history to know not to be disheartened by their opening night 2-1 loss to Argentina in the United Cup.

Alex de Minaur notched the only victory against Argentina, the world No 9 putting on a devastating display to beat Tomas Etcheverry 6-1, 6-4 at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena in 75 minutes.