Two wins in relegation relegation
Tennis men are taking a giant step towards staying in the league
September 16, 2023, 8:27 p.m
This interim result will also please Alexander Zverev as an observer from a distance: In the relegation game against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Davis Cup, both singles on the first day go to the German tennis men. Now we’re still missing a win from the three games on Sunday.
Even without Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff, the German tennis men are only missing one win to stay in the Davis Cup. In the relegation relegation game in Bosnia-Herzegovina, team boss Michael Kohlmann’s selection managed an optimal first day with a 2-0 lead in Mostar. The doubles Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz can play in the first game on Sunday (10.30 a.m./ServusTV) already make the decision.
On Saturday, Daniel Altmaier won after a shaky game in the first set with 7:6 (7:5), 6:2 against the Bosnian outsider Nerman Fatic. In the second singles, Yannick Hanfmann outclassed the former top 30 player Damir Dzumhur thanks to a strong performance and surprisingly won 6:2, 6:1. “I would be lying if I said it was all easy. I played it down really well,” Hanfmann said on ServusTV with his sweaty T-shirt completely wet and said, referring to the conditions: “It was pretty hot, I’m pretty expired.”
If the German selection wins the relegation game, they will also compete in the top division next season and can play for the Davis Cup title. If the doubles don’t lead to success, there would be a chance of getting the third point in a maximum of two singles.
Altmaier and Hanfmann had previously had no success in the Davis Cup
With Zverev, the German tennis men surprisingly lost the qualifying game against Switzerland 2:3 in Trier in February and thus missed out on qualifying for the current group phase. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the German Tennis Association team has to do without the Olympic champion as well as top 30 player Struff due to injury. Germany was last relegated in 2003.
Altmaier and Hanfmann were clearly favored in terms of the ranking position in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but have little experience in the prestigious national competition. Both now celebrated their first victories in the Davis Cup.
“It was a completely new experience for me. I think that any opponent in such a situation is not easy,” admitted Altmaier after his first singles match in an away game in the Davis Cup. A Davis Cup match “definitely” cannot be compared with another tournament. “You play for more.”
Hanfmann opponent tries everything
In front of around 800 spectators and at temperatures of 28 degrees, the tension was clearly noticeable in the opening singles. Altmaier showed against the world number 218. Fatic not his best tennis. At 4:5, the Kempen player was on the verge of losing the set, just like in the tiebreak, with his opponent missing two points. Only at the end of the first set did the world number 49 improve, and the second section became the expectedly clear affair.
Unlike Altmaier, Hanfmann was immediately very good in his game. As the former number 23 in the world, Dzumhur was supposedly the most dangerous opponent. But Hanfmann pushed the Bosnian number one onto the defensive, chased the struggling 31-year-old across the clay court and unnerved him early on with numerous stops. The world number 54 quickly led. from Karlsruhe 5-0 after three breaks before he had to give up the first games.
Neither the opponent’s criticism nor an unusual break after the first game in the second set dissuaded Hanfmann from his path. Dzumhur took a medical break and had his calf treated, but no injury was apparent during the rallies. Dzumhur tried everything to win, said Hanfmann: “Luckily it didn’t happen.”