Davis Cup: What Germany is about today against Australia
The German Davis Cup team qualified early for the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, Spain, by beating Belgium 2-1 on Friday. That doesn't make today's encounter with Australia (live from 2 p.m. on ServusTV) insignificant.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 17, 2022, 07:32 pm
Once again Davis Cup at Rothenbaum, then six days of tennis are history, which probably leaves many participants with mixed feelings. In terms of sport, the host German team went surprisingly well despite Alexander Zverev's short-term absence, qualifying for the quarter-finals in Malaga was already certain after the 2-1 win against Belgium. Jan-Lennard Struff scored as number two just as reliably as the doubles Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz, the latter had the last word on Wednesday against France and on Friday against Belgium. Which was also celebrated accordingly by the spectators.
And these spectators are the first reason why Michael Kohlmann's team won't take it easy against Australia today. As beautiful as the facility at Hamburg's Rothebaum is, from Thursday onwards the experience of the fans on site was autumnal in terms of weather. As far as admission prices are concerned, this has been the case since day one of the event.
Otte could celebrate his first victory
The fans should be rewarded for coming. And maybe Oscar Otte will reward himself for the first time. The German top man has put himself in a great position against David Goffin, but was unable to convert two match points. Now it is likely to be against Alex de Minaur, the Australian running prodigy, who was close to defeat against Benjamin Bonzi.
The Australians are qualified for Malaga like the Germans, today's meeting is about who the opponents in the quarter-finals should be: The winner of group C, ie Germany or Australia, has to deal with the second in group B. According to current readings, that could be Spain, Serbia or Canada. Should Germany lose to Australia, it would be against the winners of Group D. Those are…
Will the Pütz and Krawietz series continue?
What's at stake? The Pütz and Krawietz series. The two played seven matches together in the Davis Cup, winning just as many. At some point they would lose a game, said Pütz at the press conference on Friday evening. And for sure you will play against Australia with less pressure on Sunday, added Krawietz. But a success against reigning Wimbledon champions Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell? That would be a conclusion that the fans and the six days of the Davis Cup in Hamburg deserved.