Davis Cup: Germany is already in a winning mood when it comes to team spirit
Germany meets Canada next Thursday in Málaga in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup 2022. The mood in Michael Kohlmann's team could hardly be better despite Alexander Zverev 's absence.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Nov 20, 2022, 12:20 pm
Denis Shapovalov may have gotten a shot of sun solo (or with girlfriend Mirjam Björklund) in the Maldives. In terms of team building, the core of the German team is clearly ahead of the Davis Cup quarter-finals next Thursday in Málaga. Because the Canadians are currently not only staying in holiday paradises, but also like Félix Auger-Aliassime in Turin (also a very nice location, no doubt) or like Vasek Pospisil in Drummondville, where a Challenger tournament is currently taking place .
Kevin Krawietz, Jan-Lennard Struff and Oscar Otte against it? Before leaving for Spain, we took another deep breath in a fine Tyrolean hotel, halfway between Seefeld and Imst. Michael Kohlmann's team has good memories of Tyrol in general and Innsbruck in particular. Last year they survived the group stage against Austria and Serbia unscathed and then beat the British in the quarter-finals. Who can remember: due to the corona pandemic in front of empty ranks.
Only Spain enjoys home advantage
Twelve months later, spectators are allowed again, but the Germans and Canadians will not expect a cauldron in Malaga either. (Michael Kohlmann sees it differently, as he said after arriving without Tim Pütz, who was still in Turin: "The first impression of the conditions here on site is very good. The hall is impressive and you can imagine that a real cauldron is here can arise.") That's just (one) of the catches in the final format that has been implemented since 2019: yes, the Spaniards enjoy home advantage. But even a hit like Italy against the USA as an away game for both teams is unlikely to ensure full stands.
You have to create a mood yourself. And it seems that Kevin Krawietz, who together with Tim Pütz is the guarantor of points in the German team, has taken on the role of animator. Krawietz ended his season after Paris-Bercy, announced the separation from Andreas Mies as a doubles partner and thus the turn to Pütz on the tour. On the other hand, it only comes into play as a decisive factor if Oscar Otte or Jan-Lennard Struff score exactly one point.
Zverev only at the United Cup
Otte has to fight Auger-Aliassime. In Turin, he did mean that the tank was already pretty empty. "FAA" is still the favorite, he won the only game against Otte on the ATP tour in Florence a few weeks ago.
The sample in the duels between Jan-Lennard Struff and Denis Shapovalov is bigger, the German won five out of eight games. The last encounter went to Shapovalov, it took place earlier this year at the ATP Cup. Which the Canadians won. And which has been replaced in the professional calendar with the United Cup. Surprisingly, the first edition will take place without Canada. And the male half of the German team will also look different than in Málaga: With Alexander Zverev, the man who gave the number one cheerleader in the second round in Hamburg is returning. But he is not yet fit enough for the Davis Cup meeting with Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov.