SYDNEY, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- World No.7 Alexander Zverev spearheaded Germany into the semifinals of the mixed teams United Cup after a comeback victory over Greece here on Friday.

The quarterfinal came down to the decisive mixed doubles with Zverev teaming up with Laura Siegemund to down Petros Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-3.

Germany will face host Australia in the semifinals on Saturday.

Zverev had levelled the contest after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory in front of a capacity crowd at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Zverev had been made to work in his comeback wins against Adrian Mannarino and Lorenzo Sonego, but he was in command against sixth-ranked Tsitsipas who he had struggled against previously.

"I had to come out aggressive because I knew Stefanos is one of the best aggressive players, if not the best aggressive player in the game," said Zverev, who beat Tsitsipas for just the fifth time from 14 matches.

"If he is on the front foot it's extremely difficult to play against him and that's why I don't have a great record against him."

Tsitsipas, who was runner-up at last year's Australian Open, has had a troubled start to the season having withdrawn from his match against Chile's Nicolas Jarry on Tuesday due to a back injury.

Earlier, Sakkari gave Greece the perfect start after thrashing former No.1 Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-3 in 73 minutes.

No.8 Sakkari was in ominous form as she rattled off the first nine games en route to her third straight victory in the tournament.

"I was pretty clinical in the first set and through 3-0 in the second. I was very solid from the baseline doing what I had to do," Sakkari said. "I knew Angie was going to find a way to come back and that she wasn't going to give up."

The other semifinal will be played between top seed Poland and France, who booked their spot on Thursday after winning the decisive mixed doubles against Norway in a gripping quarterfinal.

Caroline Garcia tuned up for her daunting challenge of taking on world No.1 Iga Swiatek with a tough 6-2, 6-7(6), 7-6(5) victory over 544th-ranked Malene Helgo.

Norway may have fallen short, but No.11 Casper Ruud continued his unbeaten start to the season with a 6-1, 6-2 over Mannarino in just one hour and 17 minutes. Enditem

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