Germany It is the great surprise in the semifinals of this edition of the Davis Cup, the last in Madrid before emigrating to Abu Dhabi, capital of the Arab Emirates.
The Teutonic cadre is not missing the figure of Alexander Zverev, world number three, winner of six titles in the course, including the Turn Masters Cup and the Tokyo Games.
Zverev has given a second to the amazed la arguing that he does not like the change in format with respect to the Davis of a lifetime, with home and away eliminations in all its rounds.
Sascha seems oblivious to the fact that much of the money from the German Tennis Federation to fund promises of the future comes from winnings in competition..
Nor is Boris Becker in the band attracting all the prominence. One of the new members of the group is former athlete Carlo Thranhardt.
The one who was the world record holder in the high jump in the 80s is the motivator, as well as the physical trainer. “He had to have been a tennis player. It is a sport that I am passionate about,” he says.
Thranhardt already worked for Boris Becker and since 2015 he joined the Davis Cup team, where he has had a special influence on Jan-Lennard Struff. “The day of my debut in the tournament I went to see him to calm me down,” he recalls.
Germany, three times champion of the maximum competition by passes, in 1988, 1989 and 1993, returns to a semi-final 14 years later. It will not be easy to go to the final, which has been resisting them since 1993, because ahead will be Russia, the great favorite.
In the absence of a clear leader, Michael Kohlmann’s team has sought the union of the group to achieve success. The five summoned have had their dose of prominence. Peter Gojowczyk and Dominik Koepfer have taken turns as number two.
Both have lost their most recent matches to Jurij Rodionov and Dan Evans. The only victory in the group stage fell to Koepfer in front of Filip Krajinovic.
Struff is Germany’s first racket due to Zverev’s loss. In position 51, he stands out for his power and his service, difficult to counter in the 657 meters high of the capital of Spain.
The Germans have a consistent double with Kevin Krawietz (14) and Tim Puetz (18). Although the professional divorce between Krawietz and Andreas Mies has weakened the point in pairs.
Break in the doubles
These last two won the Roland Garros title twice in a row before parting ways in 2020. Mies, consequently, has lost his place in the team and has also been falling positions in the lists, -it is 49-, by not have a definite companion.
Russia, in addition to its infinitive arsenal, has the advantage that it has been training and playing at the Madrid Arena for two weeks. His opponent will only make his debut on that surface tomorrow after playing the round robin and the quarters in Innsbruck.
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