tennis
Davis Cup: German team starts with Otte and Struff
Oscar Otte training in Hamburg. photo
© Michael Schwartz/dpa
The group finals at the Davis Cup in Hamburg start with a damper for the German team. Without tennis star Alexander Zverev, the squad has to face France, Belgium and Australia.
After the failure of tennis star Alexander Zverev in the group finals of the Davis Cup, the focus at the start of the German team in the individual games is on Oscar Otte and Jan-Lennard Struff.
At 2 p.m. (DAZN and ServusTV) the squad in Hamburg will start the intermediate round with the game against France. Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann lamented Zverev’s failure. “The fact that Alexander cannot play is very painful for both him and us.” The 48-year-old added: “But I’m convinced that the team is now even closer together and can compensate for his absence with Alexander’s support on site.” Yannick Hanfmann joined the team for Zverev. The replacement did not have to think long about an assignment. “Of course, my first impulse was to come straight away. I experienced nice moments with the team in Rio when we qualified and I’ve known the boys for years,” said the 30-year-old.
This means that the German team has another individual option in the games at Rothenbaum in Hamburg against France, Belgium (Friday) and on Sunday against Australia. Kohlmann will most likely bet on Otte and Struff against the French. However, Otte only recently returned from an injury at the US Open.
Double Pütz/Krawietz set
In doubles, the proven duo of Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz will be at the start, who had already brought Germany towards the intermediate round with a win in the qualification in Rio in March 2022. “We don’t have a master plan. We just won a lot of close matches that could have gone differently. Overall, we’re doing well,” said Krawietz. The Germans will need the light-heartedness. Zverev’s long-awaited comeback in his hometown had been awaited with great expectations. Then the 25-year-old was plagued by pain in his right foot and, on the advice of the team doctor, canceled his assignment. “Being at the Davis Cup in my hometown of Hamburg was my big goal, which has motivated me again and again over the past few weeks,” said Zverev recently. The fifth in the ATP world rankings tore all three outer ligaments in the right ankle in the semifinals of the French Open and underwent surgery in Munich at the beginning of June.