Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
“New Goals” in the Davis Cup
DTB team can finally think big again
The German Davis Cup team is in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in 14 years. The deciding factor is the twofold: the new pairing seems unbeatable these days. There is more to it than that. In any case, the goals have already been adjusted.
After a short night, Germany’s Davis Cup selection around the guarantors of success Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz promptly set off for new goals. At 10 o’clock in the morning the plane left Innsbruck for Madrid. In the Spanish capital, the tennis men will now tackle their first semi-final in 14 years, which seemed completely unlikely a few days ago, with great self-confidence.
The biggest success chapter in recent German Davis Cup history is closely connected with Krawietz and Pütz, who won the decisive double against Great Britain in the quarter-finals – and performed a lively victory dance with the entire team. If it comes down to doubles again against Russia or Sweden, the first chance for a title since 1993 is realistic.
“We all said we want to go to Madrid. We have achieved our goal, now it’s time to set new goals, to win the semi-finals. We want to go further,” said Jan-Lennard Struff. Krawietz announced: “We are delighted to be among the four best nations in the world and are now going full throttle again in Madrid.”
“Semifinals is another game like that”
Even this first German semi-final in the Davis Cup since 2007 is remarkable. The Germans have tried it six times since then in the quarter-finals, six times they have been eliminated. Why it worked now, even though Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is recovering instead of playing, has various reasons. An essential one is the extra class in doubles. If German men’s tennis hadn’t developed into a top nation here, the round of the top four would hardly have been possible. Thanks to the two-time French Open winner in doubles, Krawietz (14th), and thanks to the world number 18. The German Tennis Association (DTB) can probably plan Pütz in the semifinals with one point. And can always hope that the two singles will be tied – and the doubles will decide.
“The semifinals is another game like that. We are in a happy position,” said Pütz: “We have a very good team for this format. I think we have one of the best doubles teams in the world. There aren’t that many Teams that have two or three players in the top 20 in the world rankings. ” In the semifinals, however, it comes down to a duel with the Russians, who still have to prevail against Sweden on Thursday. A win in singles against one of the top five players Daniil Medwedew and Andrej Rublev of the seeded Struff and either Dominik Koepfer or Peter Gojowczyk sounds unlikely.
Unlike in 2007, when the German tennis men in Moscow missed the final after five matches and three days, the final tournament only played three games in one day. The doubles are gaining in importance – and that suits the Germans. Krawietz and Pütz not only ensured the decisive 2: 1 against Great Britain, but also against Serbia and Austria. “We were already aware that this could happen here now. That is the format now. We have to live with that. It is all the nicer for us that we can always reach the decisive point,” said Pütz.
“Unfortunately only a short quack”
In their seven (Pütz) and six (Krawietz) Davis Cup doubles over the past few years, the two specialists are undefeated. Even a 0: 5 in the second tiebreak at 7: 6 (12:10), 7: 6 (7: 5) against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski did not stop them. After a rare seven points in a row, the entire tension was released on Tuesday evening, the entire DTB entourage jumped euphorically in a circle. Struff made the double show possible after falling behind with a 7: 6 (8: 6), 3: 6, 6: 2 against the world number 12 Cameron Norrie.
“Unfortunately, Kevin and I will stay here for a while,” said Pütz in view of the fact that both of them have other partners on the regular tour. Krawietz forms a duo with Andreas Mies, who is also a strong Davis Cup alternative after being injured in 2022. With goulash and noodle soup and Viennese sausages at a late hour in the Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Telfs, the tennis men quickly looked ahead again.
They left their previous domicile on Wednesday morning and took the charter plane to Madrid. After three games in four days, there is at least some time until Saturday. “Madrid was our minimum goal. The way we presented ourselves here, I’m actually in good spirits that we will definitely see our chances there,” said team boss Michael Kohlmann. With the goal of reaching the final, the 47-year-old also has the future in mind. The finalists will be at the final tournament in 2022 without a qualifying round. “For us, direct qualification for next year would definitely be a huge thing.”