Davis Cup: Germany with a declaration of war against final opponent Canada – even without Alexander Zverev

The small celebration of victory on the Center Court of Hamburg’s Rothenbaum was followed by the challenge to the next opponent in the Davis Cup.

“We will be uncomfortable and not hide,” promised team boss Michael Kohlmann of the Canadian team, which qualified for the final tournament in Malaga at the end of November in Valencia.

The three victories against France, Belgium and Australia showed that the German tennis pros can hold their own in the extended world class even without Alexander Zverev. Good to know, because hardly anyone expects the Olympic champion to pick up a racket in a regular tournament this year.

Because of the bone edema in the operated right foot, the 25-year-old consulted several medical specialists in his native city, but a full recovery will take time. Kohlmann: “There are no precise therapy instructions yet, Sascha has to rest first.”

Struff takes teammates to task

And so it will be difficult for his team when the North Americans should send their two top players Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime onto the pitch on November 24 (from 4:00 p.m.). “But we’re all up for this final,” said Jan-Lennard-Struff optimistically, the Warsteiner had given the hosts in the Hanseatic city the lead three times.

After a long dry spell in sport, the 32-year-old wants to stabilize his improving form and gain more self-confidence until Malaga. “The way back to the top 100 will be rocky, but such an improvement is my clear goal,” said Struff, currently 132nd in the ATP ranking.

Struff’s successes were a stable basis for the overall victories, because Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz are a safe bet in doubles and have so far won all seven appearances together in the Davis Cup. “If we go into the final doubles 1-1, we always have a good chance of winning against big teams,” said Kohlmann.

Germany relies on team spirit

Also because there is obviously a good team spirit away from the hard court and the training hall. “We haven’t had that for a long time. They cheer each other on, they challenge and encourage each other,” President Dietloff von Arnim praised the positive social behavior of the tennis millionaires.

Davis Cup debutant Oscar Otte was also rebuilt with this spirit after each of his three defeats. After a knee operation, the Cologne player was “missing match practice and a few percent”, as the 29-year-old said. Like teammate Struff, Otte also wants to play tournaments regularly in the coming weeks and collect a few more world ranking points.

Assuming they qualify again for the group stage, there will also be three home games for Germany in 2023. Hamburg is interested again, but a move to Düsseldorf, Halle/Westphalia, Berlin or Munich is also conceivable.

(SID)