With a curious point in doubles, Germany’s tennis players mastered the first compulsory task early on their way to their first Davis Cup triumph in 33 years.
Outsiders Peru were in Düsseldorf a good two months after the disappointing semi-final exit, not a serious test for the experienced DTB selection, which could easily cope with the absence of top player Alexander Zverev.
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz secured the necessary third victory to move into the second qualifying round with a 6:0, 2:6, 6:4 win against the initially overwhelmed Ignacio Buse and Arklon Huertas del Pino.
Sudden turnaround in set two
The German Tennis Association team will play against Denmark or Croatia in mid-September for a chance to take part in the final round again. Only at the end of the season in November will the trophy be at stake for the best eight nations in Bologna.
In view of the dismantling at the beginning, tension suddenly arose in the doubles with the surprising loss of the set in front of around 3,000 spectators. “I think the Peruvians faked in the first set and then played well. Then it was tense at the back, tight. It’s good that we won it at the back,” said Pütz.
With only three points given up, the 2024 US Open finalists overwhelmed their opponents in the first section. Even with a maximum sentence, such dominance is a rarity. Out of nowhere, the duo lost control against the underdogs in the second period. In the third set too, Krawietz/Pütz had to survive tight situations after the break in the first game before the fourth match point brought the decision.
“It was great to play in the atmosphere,” said Pütz. The appearance in Düsseldorf was the first Davis Cup home game in three years. Jan-Lennard Struff and Yannick Hanfmann won their singles confidently on Friday. Each of the four over-30 players in the team contributed one point to the overall victory.
“Of course, there’s no question about it, in order to win the Davis Cup we probably need Sascha Zverev,” Hanfmann said after his comfortable two-set win. “But we have always shown that we play the Davis Cup well and that the over-30 club also works.” The last of three German Davis Cup victories came in 1993 – in Düsseldorf against Australia.
Hanfmann (34), Struff (35), Krawietz (34) and Pütz (38) are all well over 30 years old. Young hopeful Justin Engel (18) alone broke the age average in his second Davis Cup nomination as a substitute and was allowed to play the meaningless fourth match after the 3-0 win after the first three games.
Engel stands out from a group of promising teenage talents and brings a breath of fresh air into the unit. It’s time for the younger players to step up, said Hanfmann.
There is enough talent, said team boss Michael Kohlmann and thought of players like Max Schönhaus (18), Niels McDonald (18) and Diego Dedura (17). “They just have to take the next steps. At the end of the day, our first priority is always to win, so I have to field the best,” said the former professional. “Of course I would like to appear here with an average age of 19, but they’re not there yet.” But the veterans did the job.
