Davis Cup
Supported by Becker: Zverev equalizes
Former tennis pro Boris Becker (l) and Alexander Zverev stand together. photo
© Harald Tittel/dpa
The German Davis Cup team still has every chance of progressing. Olympic champion Zverev is convincing and makes up for Otte’s defeat. But there is the biggest cheer for Becker.
Supported by Boris Becker, Alexander Zverev got the German Davis Cup team back on track. In the qualifying match against Switzerland, the Olympic tennis champion won 6: 4, 6: 1 against veteran Stan Wawrinka in Trier and thus equalized to 1: 1.
Previously, Oscar Otte had to admit defeat to Swiss number one Marc-Andrea Hüsler 6: 2, 2: 6, 4: 6 in the first individual. Becker followed the games from the German bench and was greeted by the 4,000 spectators in the arena with ovations when he was greeted by the hall announcer.
The first thing to do on Saturday is the doubles, for which Andreas Mies and Tim Pütz are planned on the German side. Then Zverev meets Hüsler before Otte and Wawrinka face each other at the end. However, the team bosses can still make changes until shortly before the start of the game.
Zverev in significantly improved form
“I’m incredibly proud that I’m standing here on the pitch. That’s what the Davis Cup is,” said Zverev after his convincing performance about the great atmosphere in the hall. “Hopefully we can play semi-finals and finals in front of a home crowd again in the future,” said Zverev with a view to possible reforms in the traditional team competition.
Zverev showed himself to be significantly improved two weeks after his second-round exit at the Australian Open. The German number one seemed fitter and more consistent in his shots. After 59 minutes he got the first set, Becker jumped up from his seat and clenched his fist.
In the second round, Zverev managed a quick break, from then on he had little trouble with the three-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland. Zverev had shown himself confident before the game and spoke of having played the best tennis in training since his injury. And indeed, Zverev managed to confirm his increasing form against Wawrinka as well. After his severe foot injury, he was no longer insecure.
Otte was only able to convince in one sentence
Otte, on the other hand, was only able to convince with one sentence at the start. After an early break in the second set, however, he lost rhythm and confidence and conceded his fifth loss in the fifth Davis Cup game. “I was definitely not the worse player,” said Otte after the unnecessary defeat. “I haven’t really got it yet. Of course it’s a shame that it didn’t work out again in the Davis Cup.”
At the end of April, Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a court in London because he had not properly declared parts of his assets in his bankruptcy proceedings. He was released in mid-December after 231 days behind bars. In Trier, the three-time Wimbledon winner also wants to hold talks with the German Tennis Association about possible cooperation in the future.