Tennis: Without Zverev: Davis Cup team shortly before moving into the final round

Yannick Hanfmann stretched his arms up after his convincing victory in the Davis Cup and, in the absence of Alexander Zverev, clapped with captain Michael Kohlmann. After two good performances, the German tennis team is shortly before moving into the final round without the world ranking in third.

The team around Hanfmann and the also successful Jan-Lennard Struff leads 2-0 in the second qualification round of the Davis Cup against host Japan and only needs one win to make the move in perfect.

“We are very happy about the result today – so that we are 2-0 in front. If we were told that beforehand, we would have said immediately: We sign that,” said Kohlmann after the two individually.

Only Struff defeated Yoshihito Nishioka 6: 4, 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 4. Afterwards Yannick Hanfmann made a 6: 3, 6: 3 against Shintaro Mochizuki for the second point. On Saturday (6:00 a.m./Tennis Channel) the clearly favored world-class double Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz has the chance to take care of the decisive 3-0.

But despite the “great starting point”, Kohlmann does not want to be too safe: “Double encounters are always 50:50 for me,” said the 51-year-old and added: “Everything can always happen.”

The final round will take place from November 18 to 23 in Bologna, Italy. Then Zverev could be there again. The German number one had canceled the duel with Japan for stress reasons.

Struff with 18 aces and nerve strength to 1-0

Instead of Zverev, Tokyo Struff ensured a successful start to the German team. In his victory against Nishioka, the veteran was primarily able to rely on his serve and nerve strength. He struck 18 aces and fended off all ten break balls of his opponent. “I knew that it would be a tough, difficult match,” said Struff of the German Press Agency.

In a balanced first round, Struff himself used his first breakball in the game directly for the set win. In a narrow second set, Struff had to give up in the tie -break, but the German professional remained nervous in the third round and managed the decisive break to 5: 4. “I tried to stay calm and believe in myself,” he emphasized.

With “more self -image” according to US Open

The Sauerländer had last convinced at the US Open in New York and only failed in the round of 16 on the 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner Novak Djokovic. Struff climbed from 144 to 98 in the world rankings. “Of course that helps if you have a little tailwind and won several matches. Then you play with a little more self -image,” said Struff.

In the second match, Hanfmann had significantly less trouble with Mochizuki, which, as number 104 in the world rankings, is even 31 places better than the German. Hanfmann was clearly superior in the direct meeting.