Davis Cup team looking to continue winning streak in Malaga

Created: 2022-09-18Updated: 2022-09-18, 8:16 p.m

The German team captain Michael Kohlmann (lr), Oscar Otte, Jan-Lennard Struff, Yannick Hanfmann, Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz stand together during the team presentation.

© Frank Molter/dpa

With the premature entry into the knockout phase of the Davis Cup, the German tennis men have shown that they are among the best in the world even without Alexander Zverev.

That's a good thing, because the injured star of the team will probably miss the final tournament as well.

Hamburg – The injured Alexander Zverev grinned thickly, wrapped up in a black hoodie in the box, the insurmountable miracle double enjoyed the warming applause of the 5000 fans in cool Hamburg.

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz led the German tennis men to group victory in the Davis Cup.

The still undefeated duo scored the decisive point in the 2-1 win over Australia on Sunday.

At the start of the final tournament in Málaga at the end of November, Germany will meet Canada.

“We were never the best in our age group in Germany, we were never among the absolute best in the world.

The Davis Cup is something special for us, it brings out the best in us," said Pütz after the 6: 4, 6: 4 win over Wimbledon winners Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell.

In eight joint appearances in the Davis Cup, the German duo has never lost.

Even before the strong end of the group phase, Michael Kohlmann's thoughts were partly on the Spanish November sun.

In the Final 8, the German men want to show the same emotional and successful tennis as at home - even without their injured star Zverev.

"Our goal is not just to win a round in Málaga, but we're going there to get very far," Kohlmann told the German Press Agency.

In Málaga, the path to the final is already mapped out - and they are avoiding top favorites Spain.

If you win against Canada you will meet the USA or Italy.

The Spaniards, who may be competing with world number one Carlos Alcaraz and superstar Rafael Nadal, would then only wait in the final.

Kohlmann doesn't care about the opponents for the time being.

"I don't know of any team we would have to hide from," said the 48-year-old team boss.

They want to take up the cause of being an unpleasant opponent for every country.

You don't even need Zverev, who has an injured foot, for that.

"At the moment we don't know exactly how long Sascha will be out," said Kohlmann.

"We'll have to wait and see.

It is important for him to find his way.

Don't start too early, focus on yourself and get yourself in the physical condition to perform at your best.

If that would fit with the Davis Cup, we would be very happy.”

Zverev also helps the team as a fan. “I am very happy that he is part of the team and that we can have eye contact during the game.

That helps enormously,” said Jan-Lennard Struff.

The 32-year-old won all three singles at Rothenbaum - with or without eye contact.

In the words of Kohlmann and Struff there is a slight hope, but Kohlmann cannot plan realistically with his best player.

Even if the 25-year-old recovers from his bone edema, he will miss months of match practice.

"Right now it's important that Sascha looks at himself and uses the time that he'll be back soon," emphasized Kohlmann.

In Spain, the 48-year-old should rely on Struff and Oscar Otte in the individual as in Hamburg.

Especially since the duo will then be at a better level.

Struff gained self-confidence through the victories in Hamburg after a previously unsuccessful year in which he fell to 132nd place in the world rankings.

And Otte only recently came back from knee surgery anyway.

"Oscar is getting better from match to match and he will be on a different level in November," said Kohlmann.

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And then there is the success double.

Krawietz and Pütz got the decisive point in all victories in Hamburg.

Even if there was sometimes a bit of luck involved.

"We had the Davis Cup God on our side," Krawietz said.

And Pütz gave a little insight into the secret of the duo's success, which won all of its first eight Davis Cup games: "Maybe it also helps that we don't play together on the tour, that it's always something fresh."

This freshness should last at least until Málaga.

And since you avoid the outstanding nations like hosts Spain at the start of the final tournament, claims are quite legitimate.

"We have constantly developed in recent years," emphasized Kohlmann.

"Last year we were in the semifinals, this year it's at least the quarterfinals again." At least.

dpa