“What is that?” – Tennis team close to Davis Cup finals

The German men’s tennis team has the best chance of qualifying for the Davis Cup finals in Malaga. It is surprising that they are in such an excellent starting position after two group matches.

Grinning, US Open finalists Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz threw a few tennis balls to the Chinese fans in the stands. The successful doubles team put the finishing touches to the 3-0 coup in Zhuhai against Chile and further improved the Davis Cup team’s already excellent starting position. Thanks to the second clear victory in the second group match, the German tennis men, who are weakened by a lack of replacements, are very close to making it to the final round of the top eight.

It was not expected that the final third group match on Saturday against the USA (8:00 a.m. CEST/DF1/DAZN and TennisChannel) might not play any role at all. Progression could already be certain on Friday, when the Germans have no game.

“We are all thrilled,” said Pütz: “Our singles players have done a phenomenal job.” Tennis professionals in the back row, who are not usually in the spotlight, are taking on responsibility and are showing strong performances.

First, Maximilian Marterer clearly dominated with a 6:1, 6:3 win against Chile’s substitute Tomas Barrios Vera. Then Yannick Hanfmann surprised world number 22 Alejandro Tabilo and won 7:5, 6:4. Pütz and Krawietz were again not under much pressure in the final doubles match. They easily won 6:1, 6:3 against Barrios Vera and Matias Soto.

“We are close to qualifying for Malaga. That was a goal here this week,” said Hanfmann. “I am pleased that I have contributed my part to this. I am extremely proud that I played such a good match.”

Team captain Michael Kohlmann will have to do without not only top player Alexander Zverev, but also the injured Jan-Lennard Struff and Dominik Koepfer at the heavily criticized Chinese venue Zhuhai.

Nevertheless, after the 3-0 win against Slovakia on Tuesday, his team also held its own against Chile without any problems. Both times the team had an unassailable lead after the singles. It was expected that the Krawietz/Pütz doubles match could be extremely important shortly after the strenuous journey from New York. But that was not the case.

“Two 2-0s – what is that?” asked Kohlmann before the doubles match against the South Americans. Hanfmann’s performance was “impressive”, as was the overall record after two games.

Two wins could be enough for the Germans to advance. They have only lost one set so far. Things could hardly have gone better. The USA can make it all clear for the Germans in their duel with Slovakia on Friday. If the Americans win, the USA and Germany would be the two best teams in the group. Eight nations will then play for the prestigious title in Malaga from November 19 to 24.

If they qualify, the German line-up will probably look different. In Zhuhai, Hanfmann and Marterer have so far convincingly made up for the cancellations of the top German players.

On paper, Chile was the strongest team in the group. However, the Chileans lost their opening match against the USA and faced the Germans in the singles without top 30 player Nicolas Jarry and former top 20 professional Cristian Garin.

“I arrived here in pretty good shape,” said Marterer after his convincing victory: “I’m super happy to be able to bring this level to the court in the first two matches. I feel super motivated.”