Davis Cup team wins in Hungary
Doppel advances and Struff irons out his own bankruptcy
February 3, 2024, 6:16 p.m
No Zverev, no problem: After a brief wobble, the German tennis men confidently reached the group stage of the Davis Cup. In Hungary, Jan-Lennard Struff overcomes his defeat in the first singles and wins the decisive point. The template for this is provided by the Krawietz/Pütz double.
Jan-Lennard Struff and Michael Kohlmann showed their fist, then the German Davis Cup team lined up for the winner’s photo: Even without top player Alexander Zverev, captain Kohlmann’s selection confidently secured the ticket for the group phase in September – and can compete for it Fight to reach the final round of the traditional tennis team competition in Malaga in November.
“We are incredibly relieved because after Sascha’s cancellation I thought it was a game of equals with 50:50 matches,” said Kohlmann after the 3-1 win against Hungary: “We are incredibly happy to be back again to be in the group stage after our very unfortunate loss last year.”
Struff provided a confident performance against the world number 213. Mate Valkusz for the decisive point and was able to celebrate: “I’m absolutely happy because it was an absolutely tough draw here in Hungary with 6,500 spectators. I’m very happy with the performance,” said the 33-year-old after the 6:3, 6:2. Struff said afterwards that he was “absolutely happy”. In the end, the fact that he had lost his singles on Friday no longer mattered.
Jan-Lennard Struff made the decision.
(Photo: dpa)
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz had previously given the guests the lead with a 6:3, 7:6 (7:3) doubles win against Valkusz/Fabian Marozsan. “As so often, they carried us and ensured a certain level of calm in the hall,” praised Kohlmann: “And this victory also gave Struffi a boost.” After Warsteiner Struff’s success, the game was decided early.
Little excitement for many viewers
The German team lived up to its role as favorite in Tatabanya even without their exceptional player Zverev, who had a cold. On Friday, Dominik Koepfer won his singles against Marozsan in two sets at the start, Struff then lost against the experienced Marton Fucsovics. There was no longer any tension in front of around 6,000 spectators, Krawietz/Pütz and Struff played dominantly from the start and left no doubt about qualification.
Last year, the German tennis players missed the group phase after a bitter 2:3 defeat against Switzerland in Trier, but secured relegation in the world group in the relegation against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The last Davis Cup title for the German team was in 1993.
Olympic champion Zverev canceled his planned participation on Wednesday. The Hamburg resident is still suffering from a cold, which weakened him during his five-set defeat in the semifinals of the Australian Open against Daniil Medvedev last week. He is expected to lead the German team again in September.