“Resurrected from the dead”: German tennis aces are very close to triumph

“Raised from the dead”
German tennis aces are very close to triumph

06.09.2024, 08:12

That’s a lot of stress: Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz can fulfill their dream of winning the tennis doubles title at the US Open. But in addition to the nerves, they also have to deal with travel stress. Because reaching the final in New York is causing a lot of confusion.

The great opportunity for their first joint Grand Slam triumph has also thrown Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz’s travel plans into disarray. Instead of flying to the Davis Cup in Zhuhai, China on Friday, the top German doubles team will now play on Saturday (probably 6 p.m./Sky and Sportdeutschland.TV) at the US Open in the final for the title. “Before the match, the travel agent wrote to us that Sunday afternoon was now the preferred option,” said Pütz after reaching the final in New York, “because that is the only option where there are still places available.”

Before the tournament, Krawietz and Pütz probably didn’t fully expect to have a chance of winning the title and 750,000 US dollars in prize money against the Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in Arthur Ashe Stadium. In a semi-final thriller, the duo won 6:3, 6:7 (9:11), 6:4 against Marcelo Arévalo from El Salvador and the Croatian Mate Pavic thanks to a stronger performance. “In the end, we turned our heads off and just kept playing. We rose from the dead again,” said Pütz. “It was a fantastic match,” said Krawietz.

Krawietz and Pütz actually don’t like the last Grand Slam of the year on the unpopular hard court. “New York was never our favorite tournament,” said Pütz. “We’re doing well mentally by not really shining, but doing our stuff well. The final is the reward for that.”

Already back, then turned

In the tiebreak of the set, the German doubles missed a match point and were 2:4 behind in the second set. However, the two won four games in the series and were able to celebrate after a strong return from Pütz. “It was a bit of a rollercoaster,” said Krawietz, describing the turbulent course of the match.

So far, Philipp Petzschner is the only German tennis pro to have reached the men’s doubles final at the US Open, winning the title in 2011 together with the Austrian Jürgen Melzer. Krawietz won the French Open title twice with his former doubles partner Andreas Mies. Now, in their second year together as a doubles team, they have a great chance of winning their first Grand Slam – it would be Pütz’s first. “First year and second Grand Slam final would have been better, but we’ll take second year and first final too,” joked Pütz. It will be a real highlight on Saturday against the Australians Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson.

Both of them experience their days in New York very differently. “Off the pitch, I have to fulfill my fatherly duties,” said Pütz, who, unlike his partner, traveled with his wife and children: “Kevin is basically alone here. I don’t know what he’s doing all the time.” Krawietz, who otherwise often takes his family to tournaments, enjoys good food in one of the rooftop bars when he’s not playing and relaxes for the sporting challenges. So far, it seems to be the perfect mix for the duo.

Davis Cup team boss Michael Kohlmann was one of the first to congratulate him, sending a fist emoji to his cell phone – “then the next question was: when is the final?” reported Pütz and laughed. If the flight rebooking is successful, nothing stands in the way of his appearance on Tuesday in the first match of the Davis Cup group phase against Slovakia.