Even the support of tennis legend Boris Becker did not help Oscar Otte to his first victory in the Davis Cup. Otte lost in Trier at the start of the qualifying game against Switzerland against Marc-Andrea Hüsler after an overall poor performance 6:2, 2:6, 4:6.
It was his fifth loss in five Davis Cup games. Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is already under pressure in the second individual against Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka.
“I was definitely not the worse player,” said Otte after the unnecessary defeat. “I haven’t really got it yet. Of course it’s a shame that it didn’t work out again in the Davis Cup.”
Becker followed the game from the German bench and supported Otte loudly and with gestures. “That was super helpful,” said Otte, who got off to a good start and clearly dominated the action in the first set. The 29-year-old was able to rely on his good serve and scored many easy points. After just 29 minutes, the man from Cologne won the first set to the cheers of around 4,000 spectators.
But at the beginning of the second half, the German number two conceded a quick break and then lost confidence and rhythm. Hüsler equalized without shining after sets and in an encounter with many mistakes on both sides in the decision-making process, he managed a break more than Otte.
At the end of April, Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a court in London because he had not properly declared parts of his assets in his bankruptcy proceedings. He was released in mid-December after 231 days behind bars. In Trier, the three-time Wimbledon winner also wants to hold talks with the German Tennis Association about possible cooperation in the future.
