Davis Cup: Michael Kohlmann does not rule out double struff
Germany will meet Belarus in Düsseldorf on March 6th and 7th. In the fight for a place at the Davis Cup final in Madrid, one man could become a pieceworker: Jan-Lennard Struff .
by Robin Huiber
last edit:
Mar 01, 2020, 10:10 am
The still relatively new Davis Cup mode has its pitfalls: In the classic format, there were no restrictions on the doubles on Saturday over three days, so the respective captains now have to weigh up who they send to the first match on the second day. Because one, maybe even both, players could come to further missions during the day.
Michael Kohlmann, the German team boss, is of course aware that he would only see the double at the end of a national competition - as in the classic Fed Cup. Or like the final tournament in the Davis Cup and the ATP Cup. However, only two singles are played there, the games are played in one day.
Struff narrowly loses to Tsitsipas in Dubai
For the German team there could actually be a lot to think about in the duel with Belarus next Friday and Saturday. Especially when it comes to line-up in doubles. Kohlmann can count on the French Open champions Andreas Mies and Kevin Krawietz, but the player in the best shape should be Jan-Lennard Struff. In single and in double. While “Kramies” had had a difficult start to the season, Struff and his new partner Henri Kontinen certainly earned some laurels. Most recently, the Warsteiner and the veteran were in the semifinals of Dubai (Krawietz and Mies were eliminated in the quarterfinals), in Rotterdam even in the final.
"We want to leave all doors open this time," explained Kohlmann a few days ago in the BIG SHOW of sportradio360.de . Struff is due to the cancellation of Alexander Zverev as the clearly best-placed player in the encounter against Belarus, lost just Thursday in Dubai in the quarterfinals against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The question of whether Struff also plays in doubles will naturally also depend on the score after the two Friday singles. However, if Germany leads 2-0, the doubles could bring the decision. "Sure, Kevin and Andi are set, but if something happens during the week or if Jan-Lennard is extremely hot, then it is also possible that we see him more often than only in singles," added Kohlmann.