Tennis – Marterer and Hanfmann lead Davis Cup team to opening victory – Sport

Zhuhai (dpa) – The German tennis men have celebrated their first victory on their way to the Davis Cup finals. In Zhuhai, China, the strong, weakened German team of team manager Michael Kohlmann secured their victory over Slovakia early after the two singles matches.

First, Maximilian Marterer impressed with a 6:4, 7:5 win against Lukas Klein. Then Yannick Hanfmann fought back from a set behind to win 3:6, 6:3, 7:6 (7:3) against Jozef Kovalik. After having to fend off a match point at 4:5 in the third set, he secured the decisive second point a short time later.

US Open finalists Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz, who had only arrived the evening before a long journey, were therefore not under any pressure to win the final doubles match.

Marterer: “There could be a little surprise”

“I think it’s a big relief for us,” said Marterer after his lucky start in extremely humid conditions in the hall in Zhuhai: “I’m very happy with this start to the week, it makes me want more.”

On Thursday, the team, which will have to make do without top player Alexander Zverev, Jan-Lennard Struff and Dominik Koepfer, will face Chile as their strongest opponent. “We have all prepared very well. We feel comfortable with the conditions. “I think there could be a small surprise on Thursday,” said Marterer.

Debates about awarding contracts to China

The fact that the ITF awarded the German group to China resulted in travel stress and a lot of criticism. In addition to Slovakia and Chile, the USA is another group opponent. The two best teams in the group will reach the finals in Malaga, Spain, in November.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:240910-930-228178/2