Tennis: No Zverev, no problem? Davis Cup team relies on doubles

When the double heroes Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz arrived in Malaga two days late, they were received with great applause by their Davis Cup colleagues at the hotel. “This is an outstanding success for both of them,” said Jan-Lennard Struff about the German doubles triumph at the ATP Finals. “We are really happy for them,” said the Warsteiner, the German number one in the absence of Alexander Zverev, who is already on vacation.

Krawietz and Pütz celebrated their biggest title together to date with their success in Turin on Sunday and then celebrated it properly. “If you don’t celebrate the title, then what other title?” said Krawietz, who had already won the French Open twice with his former doubles partner Andreas Mies.

Successful doubles are used to complicated journeys

The fact that they joined the team a little tired and late shouldn’t play a major role in the quarter-final against Canada this Wednesday (12 p.m.). “We’re used to worse,” said Pütz, referring to the journey to the intermediate round in China in September. At that time, Pütz and Krawietz had traveled halfway around the world after losing the US Open final in New York and only arrived a few hours before the opening game against Slovakia.

Despite all the hardships, the duo also delivered in China and won all three games. How you can always rely on Krawietz and Pütz. The newly crowned ATP Finals champions have won 13 of the 14 doubles so far. They only left the field as losers once – two years ago in the final round in Malaga against Canada.

Revenge is the goal for 2022

This is one of the reasons why the German team is particularly motivated going into the quarter-finals. “We still have a score to settle with the Canadians,” said national coach Michael Kohlmann before the duel with the North Americans, with a view to the 1:2 at the same place in 2022.

Zverev wasn’t there then either because he had seriously injured his foot in the final of the French Open a few months earlier. This year, the world number two didn’t play for Germany in the Davis Cup and, after a long and grueling season, he now prefers the Maldives to Malaga.

Well positioned even without Zverev

Nevertheless, the selection of the German Tennis Federation is again one of the best eight nations. “We have always had a very good team at the Davis Cup for many years, be it with him or without him,” said Pütz. “And so I think we don’t have to hide from anyone.”

In the semifinals, Germany could then meet Spain and thus become part of Rafael Nadal’s big farewell show. The 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner from Spain ended his impressive career at the Davis Cup Finals.

But that doesn’t play a role in the minds of the German players. “Of course it would be the icing on the cake,” said Pütz, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Tuesday. “But the thought isn’t so present now because we lost to Canada last time. It’s a difficult task.”