With the premature entry into the final of the Davis Cup, the German tennis men have shown that they are among the best in the world even without Alexander Zverev.
After the successful home game in cold and wet Hamburg, Michael Kohlmann’s thoughts wandered to the Spanish November sun. In the final tournament of the Davis Cup in Malaga, the German men want to show the same emotional and successful tennis as at home – even without their injured star Alexander Zverev.
“Our goal is not just to win one lap in Malaga, we’re going there to get very far,” Kohlmann told the German Press Agency.
The last group game at Rothenbaum against the Australians, who also qualified, had mostly statistical value – and determined who Germany meets in the quarter-finals of Final 8 (November 22nd to 27th). Kohlmann didn’t care about the opponent for the time being. “I don’t know of any team we would have to hide from,” said the 48-year-old captain. They want to take up the cause of being an unpleasant opponent for every country.
Kohlmann on Zverev: “Don’t start too early”
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’s important for him to find his way. Don’t start too early, concentrate and get in shape physically, do top performances. If that would fit with the Davis Cup, we would be very happy.”
There is a hint of hope in the words, 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 Jan-Lennard Struff and Oscar Otte in the individuals, as he did in Hamburg.
“At Oscars it gets better from match to match”
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.
And then there is the success double. Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz got the decisive point in the victories against France and Belgium 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 duo’s secret of success, which won all of its first seven 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 as far as Malaga. And since you are probably avoiding the outstanding nations like hosts Spain at the start of the final tournament, claims are quite legitimate. “We have continued to develop in recent years,” emphasized Kohlmann. “Last year we were in the semi-finals, this year it’s at least the quarter-finals again.” At least.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
