Before they went on their well-deserved vacation, Germany’s tennis professionals had to deal with some frustration. “We’ll have a beer to combat the disappointment,” announced national coach Michael Kohlmann after the bitter semi-final defeat against the Netherlands in Malaga.
The German tennis players haven’t been as close to the final as this time for a long time. Even without world number two Alexander Zverev, who was already on vacation in the Maldives, he was only a few points short of the surprise team from the neighboring country to play for the “ugliest salad bowl in the world” for the first time in 31 years.
“In the end, nuances made the difference,” said Kohlmann, summing up the unfortunate exit against the Oranje team, which came about as a result of two narrow three-set defeats. First, Daniel Altmaier, in only his fourth appearance for Germany, missed a win against Botic van de Zandschulp after almost three hours. Then veteran Jan-Lennard Struff also lost in the deciding set against Tallon Griekspoor, who was serving like he was unleashed.
Newly crowned champions in doubles were not played
The Germans’ big bargaining chip, the successful pair of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz, was no longer used. The newly crowned ATP Finals champions had to leave sunny Andalusia without having achieved anything. Instead of the feeling of happiness after the Turin coup, the German duo took the disappointment of missing out on the final with them on vacation through no fault of their own.
But with some distance, Krawietz and Pütz will also look back on the 2024 Davis Cup season with a positive feeling, in which they remained undefeated. “We have proven again this year that we can play with the big boys,” said Kohlmann. And that despite many adversities.
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Zverev didn’t play in the Davis Cup once this year. He skipped the first round in Hungary immediately after the Australian Open due to illness. The intermediate round in China between the US Open and Laver Cup also did not fit into the tournament schedule. Struff was also injured in Asia. And Zverev skipped Malaga because he urgently needed a vacation after a long season and lung problems.
With Zverev and the Malaga team, a new attack on the Davis Cup will be made next year. After all, the last triumph in the prestigious team competition was an agonizingly long 31 years ago. “Of course it hurts at the moment because we were close. But we’ll keep trying,” announced Struff.
The first knockout round will take place at the end of January/beginning of February 2025. In September, following the latest reform, there will be another do-or-die game instead of a group phase, before the Davis Cup Finals with eight teams conclude the season in November. “I think that will be the format for the next few years and that’s okay,” said Kohlmann before enjoying a cold drink to combat his frustration. (dpa)
