From the alpine paradise to Madrid: Davis Cup team is about to attack the summit
The German Davis Cup players want to take revenge on Great Britain and move into the semi-finals for the first time in 14 years. They feel comfortable in the outsider role.
by SID
last edit: Nov 30, 2021, 08:09 am
In front of the fantastic mountain panorama with the snow-capped Stubai Alps, the German tennis professionals forged the plans for their summit storm at the Davis Cup. The pleasure should not be neglected in the noble team hotel after the strong quarter-finals. "We have a very nice swimming pool," said Tim Pütz with a smile, before captain Michael Kohlmann reminded him that "a little" had to be trained.
After all, the quarter-finals against Great Britain on Tuesday evening (4:00 p.m. / ServusTV) in Innsbruck should only be a stopover on the way to the big matches in Madrid. "We have a chance to move into the semi-finals. That is our goal," said Kohlmann. The last time a team from the German Tennis Association (DTB) achieved this 14 years ago - and the motivation is particularly high against the British.
Kohlmann wants revenge against Great Britain
Two years ago at the premiere of the Davis Cup final in Madrid there was this encounter in the quarter-finals, Jan-Lennard Struff and Co. expected great chances - but Great Britain won 2-0. "I want revenge," emphasized Kohlmann, and dual specialist Kevin Krawietz was "very, very hot".
Nevertheless, Kohlmann gave the British the favorite status, saying that his team was "a bit of an outsider" on paper. Certainly the opponent in the world number 12 Cameron Norrie, who surprisingly won the Masters tournament in Indian Wells only last month, and Daniel Evans (ATP-25.) Have the stronger individual players on paper. In the absence of Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, Germany does not have a player from the top 50 in the world rankings.
But that plays a subordinate role in the Davis Cup, explained Kohlmann. "It's not so much about ranking positions, but about calling up your performance in the crucial moments," said the 47-year-old, who also has an ace up his sleeve with the strong tie Krawietz / Pütz, which has already stung twice.
"We have to perform to the best of our ability, then we have a chance," said the team boss. And that his team can handle the role of the outsider well, they already proved in the group stage in the surprise success against Serbia for Grand Slam record champion Novak Djokovic.
Team spirit has top priority
The trump card is team spirit. Struff, Dominik Koepfer, Krawietz and Pütz got along brilliantly in the "tennis flat share" at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and in Innsbruck with Davis Cup comebacker Peter Gojowczyk, the players repeatedly refer to the excellent atmosphere. With this, Kohlmann also declared that his team easily managed to break the surprising 0: 1 deficit against Austria on Sunday evening.
"We stand together as a team, regardless of whether it goes well or badly," he said: "That makes me very proud." For the quarter-finals he was therefore "in good spirits. We are in a good position, we have nothing to lose."
And as much as the German professionals like it in the winter wonderland of Tyrol - their Davis Cup trip should only end in Madrid, where the semi-finals and the final will take place. "This goal," explained Kohlmann, "is still there."