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World No.2 Alexander Zverev won't play in Germany's quarter-final clash with Kazakhstan at the United Cup due to a biceps injury.

Germany's hopes of defending their United Cup crown have taken a huge blow after world No.2 Alexander Zverev was cut down by a biceps injury.

Kazakhstan shot out to a 1-0 lead in their quarter-final clash with Germany on Wednesday after world No.6 Elena Rybakina posted a 6-3 6-1 win over Laura Siegemund in the women's singles in Perth.

Zverev was slated as a hot favourite to level the tie against world No.78 Alexander Shevchenko.

But just minutes before the men's singles match was due to start at RAC Arena, it was announced Zverev wouldn't play.

Instead, it's been left to world No.254 Daniel Masur to pull off an upset for team Germany.

It's unclear just how serious Zverev's injury is, and whether he will feature in the semi-finals if Germany make it that far.

Zverev looked in ominous touch on the way to posting a straight sets win over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in Germany's tournament opener on Sunday.

But late in the third set against China's Zhizhen Zhang on Monday, Zverev could be seen stretching out his right arm.

Zverev fought on to post the 2-6 6-0 6-2 victory, but he was unable to back up for Wednesday's clash.

Rybakina put Kazakhstan in the box seat against Germany with a 64-minute rout of world No.80 Siegemund.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion converted four of her seven break-point opportunities across the match, and fired in six aces to nil.

Siegemund committed 22 unforced errors and wasn't able to convert either of her two break-point chances in a match that began in 30C heat.

"I don't like when it's too hot. But the only good thing at 10am (WST) it's not as hot," Rybakina said.

"But definitely I'm trying to drink more water and stay in the shade whenever I have a chance."

In Sydney, world No.2 Iga Swiatek kept Poland alive in their tie with Czechia after defeating Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4 in just under two hours.

Swiatek had to defeat Muchova to give her team a fighting chance for a quarter-final spot after Polish men's No.1 Hubert Hurkacz lost to Tomas Machac 7-5 3-6 6-4 at Ken Rosewall Arena. With the ledger now square, Swiatek and Hurkacz must finish off the job in the mixed doubles match against Muchova and Machac. The winner of Group F will face the best runners-up in Sydney in their quarter-final match, with Poland looking to do better than their second-placed finish to Germany last year.