The German Davis Cup team will contest the second and last qualification round against Japan without his tennis star Alexander Zverev. Immediately after the US Open, the trip to Tokyo.
Team boss Michael Kohlmann is the world rankings in third “not available due to the full tour calendar in August and September“. This was announced by the German Tennis Association (DTB) in a message on the squadry.
Kohlmann called Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann, Jan-Lennard Struff as well as the double players Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz on the line-up for the duel with host Japan on September 12th and 13th. On the first day there are two single matches, the next day a double and two other individual parts.
The winning team qualifies for the Davis Cup finals from November 18 to 23 in Bologna. In the event of a qualification, Zverev could also intervene again: the ATP finals of the eight best players of the year, including the 28-year-old, end on November 16.
Experience is required in Tokyo
“To survive in Japan, we will need a lot of experience. So I am pleased that I can fall back on a tried -and -tested team that also convinced in 2024 at the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga“, said Kohlmann.”All five nominated players like to run for Germany and also know how to deal with the special pressure in this competition. “
Zverev was also missing in the successful first qualifying round against Israel. At that time, the Hamburger had canceled early to recover from the Australian Open. Also Struff was not there because of an infection who has slipped back to the German Davis Cup team at the world ranking position 143.
Germany and Japan faced each other in the Davis Cup: in 1933 the Japanese selection in Berlin won 4: 1. Japan’s generation of players is not to be underestimated, Kohlmann warned: “With Kei Nishikori, the Japanese have a top player in their ranks, who is currently working back into the top of the world. Shintaro Mochizuki and Yoshihito Nishioka, their number 2 and 3, are also very uncomfortable.”