In order to reach the group stage of the Davis Cup, the German team is relying on the learning effect from last year’s early elimination. In the defeat against Switzerland in February 2023, the euphoria after winning the double and the 2-1 lead was a little too great, reported team boss Michael Kohlmann in Tatabánya, Hungary.
“I think everyone felt a little bit safe. The tension dropped a little too much,” he said. There was already “satisfaction” after the double. “Everyone was so happy. I think we learned from it and that we’ll definitely do things differently here, that it won’t be over until we get three points.”
In Trier, after the interim 2-1 win against Switzerland, Alexander Zverev and Daniel Altmaier lost their singles. The German selection missed out on making it to the group stage of the Davis Cup.
Kohlmann has “a good feeling” about the doubles
As in Trier, the score in Hungary is now 1-1 after the first day. Saturday (1 p.m. / DAZN and TennisChannel) begins with the doubles with Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz. Jan-Lennard Struff, the top German player, will then face Hungarian number one Fabian Marozsan.
Finally, the singles match between Dominik Koepfer and Marton Fucsovics is scheduled. He has “a good feeling” about the doubles, said Kohlmann. “It’s a very important match for both nations.”
On the first day of the two-day qualifying round, Koepfer won 6:2, 7:6 (7:4) against Marozsan, then Struff lost to Fucsovics 3:6, 5:7.
The team in Hungary cannot rely on Olympic champion Zverev. According to the German Tennis Association, the world number six, who was nominated, canceled because of the infection that had already weakened him in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
