Davis Cup: "want to become first"
The German Davis Cup team is aiming for the group victory after their smooth opening win against Argentina with a success in the final match against Chile.
by Tobias SCHWYTER / SID
last edit: Nov 20, 2019, 08:39 pm
The ice-cold debutants Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies lay exhausted in the arms after the successful battle of the nerves, in the box Boris Becker applauded with a big grin on his face. The German Davis Cup team made a strong start at the final tournament in Madrid, after the convincing 3-0 win over Argentina, the group victory and thus the quarter-finals are already within reach.
"I am so tired and ready, but we are so happy that we could get the third point for Germany," Mies said after eighth match against Maximo Gonzalez / Leonardo Mayer in a thriller over 3:18 hours with Krawietz in a thriller sat. On Thursday (from 11.00 clock / DAZN) the team of captain Michael Kohlmann against Chile already enough a match win to move into the knockout stages.
Struff: "stronger with Zverev"
Jan-Lennard Struff did not want to rest on the grandiose opening. "It's great that we defeated Argentina ahead of schedule," said German number one, but emphasized: "We want to be first."
The success against Argentina had already been determined after the two individual - Struff convinced in 6: 3, 7: 6 (10: 8) against the favored Diego Schwartzman, veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber had by the 1: 6, 6: 3, 6: 4 provided Guido Pella for the lead. But also the French Open winners Krawietz and Mies in their first Davis Cup match nervously 6: 7 (4: 7), 7: 6 (7: 2), 7: 6 (20:18) prevailed, The starting position for the German team could not be better.
"Argentina are the strongest team in the group, we did a good job," said Struff, but warned: "It will be difficult against Chile, too." On Wednesday, however, proved the selection of the German Tennis Association (DTB) but that can be expected in Madrid without top players Alexander Zverev.
He had categorically ruled out his participation after harsh criticism of the new format and is currently contesting showmatches with Roger Federer in Latin America. "Of course we would be stronger with him," said Struff, but pointed to the "good team spirit, no matter who plays".
Half-empty hall
The 84th participation in the traditional team competition is for the German team a special - football professional Gerard Pique from FC Barcelona had acquired with his investment company Kosmos the rights to the Davis Cup for the next 25 years for supposedly three billion dollars and the format completely changed ,
Instead of four rounds spread throughout the year, 18 nations battle for the "ugliest salad bowl in the world" until Sunday in the one-week final tournament. The winners of the six groups of three as well as the two best second qualify for the quarter-finals.
With nearly 1,500 spectators, Court 2 was only half full on Wednesday - but the bulk of vociferous Argentine fans spread Davis Cup atmosphere. "It's clear that a home game in Germany feels different," said Kohlschreiber, as against Argentina they will also play against Chile "away". Struff even spoke of a "world-class mood", but found it "a pity that a few places have been left empty".