The ticket for Bologna has been solved: the German team has again Davis Cups qualified.
The top double Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz made the decision on Saturday in Japan with his success to 3-0. The duo from Coburg and Frankfurt in Tokyo won 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 4) against Yosuke Watanuki/Takeru Yuzuki.
Defense against three set balls
At the end of the narrow second round, Krawietz/Pütz brought eleven points in a row to the winning road. At 0:40 with its own serve, the German duo initially fended off three set balls before the fifth match ball decided the game in the Tiebreak a little later.
“The key was to stay tough. We have already seen in the singles that were close matches. We played a good tiebreak, that was the key”said Krawietz. Pütz added relieved: “We are very happy to be there in Bologna.”
Final round in November
The final round in the Italian city will be played from November 18 to 23.
Already on Friday, the selection of team boss Michael Kohlmann had clearly taken the final 8 with two individual victories. Jan-Lennard Struff (Warstein) had a 6: 4, 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 4 against the former world rankings 24. Yoshihito Nishioka presented. The Karlsruher Yannick Hanfmann ensured a comfortable lead after the first day with a 6: 3, 6: 3 victory against Shintaro Mochizuki, the number one of the hosts.
Jan-Lennard Struff won against Yoshihito Nishioka.
Clear victory even without Zverev
The German team had to do again in the 2nd qualification round without Alexander Zverev, who rarely grants the Davis Cup in its schedule.
Hanfmann: “It was a very solid performance from me”
Struff had started with convincing performance and strong nerves. “It was a brutal tough match”he said after the game in which he succeeded in 18 aces: “I am very happy that I was able to get a point for Germany. The game is mega tight.”
Yannick Hanfmann added in the Ariake Coliseum. “It was a very solid performance from me today”he said satisfied and relied on the doubles that fulfilled his hopes.