Frankfurt’s Tim Pütz after losing the tennis final: First frustration, then beer, then China | hessenschau.de

A brief smile crossed Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz’s faces as they posed with the silver plate of the US Open finalists. They hadn’t managed to pull off the big, historic coup in the doubles final in New York. Nevertheless, their disappointment was quickly mixed with a touch of pride.

Pütz’s two children (two and four years old) were playing around and lightening the mood. “It puts everything into perspective and shows that you don’t have to cry for the next four days,” said Pütz on the ARD microphone. “I think we can be incredibly proud of ourselves. Of course it’s annoying in the back of our minds because we know that we can win it.”

Pütz is self-critical

The mighty winner’s trophy was lifted by the Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, who the Franconian-Hessian duo lost to 4:6, 6:7 (4:7). The service was probably the weakest point compared to the “Aussies”. “That is also the biggest disappointment for me, that I did not play as well as I can,” admitted Pütz.

There was no time to be frustrated, however. The plane left for China on Sunday, where Krawietz/Pütz were competing for the German Davis Cup team from Tuesday onwards to qualify for the final round in Malaga. According to Krawietz, the aim in Zhuhai was “to get through the group phase”.

$375,000 bonus

Following the cancellations of top players such as Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff, the doubles specialists have become even more important for Michael Kohlmann’s team. Despite all the tailwind, the “KraPütz” will probably feel it after their performances in New York: They were not able to make it big in their first joint Grand Slam final. This means that no German team in the Open Era has triumphed in the Big Apple since 1968. Only Philipp Petzschner from Bayreuth was able to celebrate in 2011 alongside the Austrian Jürgen Melzer.

For Krawietz, it remains with his two French Open victories in 2019 and 2020 alongside Cologne’s Andreas Mies. Pütz, who has a mixed title from Paris, is still waiting for a double coup at a major. Both together remain a bonus of 375,000 US dollars. Krawietz already knows the final feeling from his successful time with Cologne’s Mies, from whom he parted ways at the end of 2022 in favor of Pütz.

It continues directly

Pütz summed up his frustration management and the near future in a very casual manner: “Today we’ll first toast and drink a beer or two. Then we’ll try to flip the switch and be on the plane tomorrow.” Then, in the crazy tennis calendar, it’s off from New York to China.

Editorial staff:
Tim Brockmeier and
Ron Ulrich

Source: hessenschau.de, SID