Davis Cup: pride, confidence - and hope for Alexander Zverev: "It's not the end yet"
Despite missing the final in the Davis Cup, pride prevailed among the German tennis professionals. For the next few years they continue to hope that Olympic champion Alexander Zverev will return.
by SID
last edit: Dec 06, 2021, 08:31 pm
It didn't take Jan-Lennard Struff and Co. too long to digest the disappointment that they had missed the crowning glory of their title mission in Madrid. The German tennis professionals toasted their sensational Davis Cup trip over a fine dinner, then boarded the plane on Sunday morning with their heads held high - with great desire for more after the first semi-final in 14 years. "That", emphasized captain Michael Kohlmann, "is not the end yet."
There is great confidence in the German Tennis Association (DTB). The clear end against the strong Russian team, which won the Davis Cup crown for the third time on Sunday, did not change that. "Overall, we can be extremely proud of ourselves," said Kohlmann, seeing his team "ready to take a few steps further. Unfortunately, it didn't work out this year, but we'll attack again next year."
Zverev: Vacation instead of Davis Cup
Maybe then with Alexander Zverev - at least the hope for a comeback of the star player is great. As a critic of the Davis Cup format with the final round at the end of an exhausting season, the Olympic champion had decided not to participate, instead went on vacation to the Maldives and was a guest at a fundraising gala with his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla on Saturday evening. The DTB professionals wanted to be able to take the final steps to the title with Zverev in the future.
"We don't have to talk about Sascha's qualities," said Struff: "If he's there, we're a better team and have better chances of winning." This is "no criticism at all for not being there," said the Warsteiner, but added: "Of course I would be happy if he were by our side at the next Davis Cup."
Dominik Koepfer would also welcome a return of the winner of the ATP Finals. "Hopefully he will decide to play in the next few years," said the native of the Black Forest: "We would love to have him on the team." The 2-1 defeat against the strong Russians showed what a decisive factor the world number three could be for the really big hit. Medvedev (ATP-2.) And Andrey Rublev (ATP-5.) Cleared the final with the two singles.
Nevertheless, it was important to Kohlmann to highlight the positive aspects of this tournament, such as the outstanding team spirit or the extremely strong and still unbeaten doubles specialists Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz. "Nobody expected us to make the sensational semi-finals with victories over Novak Djokovic's Serbs and Great Britain," said the team boss.
"Advertising for the German tennis sport"
"In the next few years I believe that we will always have a good say with the necessary draw," said Kohlmann, pointing out that he would have "always seen his team at eye level" against all other teams in the tournament except Russia. The German team has to qualify for the upcoming finals via an away game in Brazil on March 4th and 5th.
DTB President Dietloff von Arnim also gave a lot of praise before returning from Madrid. "These two weeks were amazing. The entire team around captain Michael Kohlmann can be proud of themselves," said the 61-year-old: "That was an advertisement for German tennis."