Tennis, German Davis Cup team: Alexander Zverev meets Wawrinka

Status: 02/02/2023 6:38 p.m

Alexander Zverev is back in Germany at the Davis Cup in Trier for the first time since his severe ligament tear. He is looking forward to opponent Stan Wawrinka and the audience in Trier.

Olympic champion Alexander Zverev meets Stan Wawrinka on Friday (February 3rd, 2023; live ticker from 6.30pm on sportschau.de) in the second match of the Davis Cup duel between Germany and Switzerland.

  • 1st round, Germany – Switzerland
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  • Live ticker, Friday from 6.30 p.m.: Zverev – Wawrinka
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Zverev is looking forward to the game: “It’s the first time I’m playing in Germany after my injury. I think that’s pretty special for me,” said the 25-year-old in an interview with SWR Sport. “And of course, against Stan, he’s an incredible champion, has won three Grand Slams, several tournaments and also won the Davis Cup with Switzerland. That will immediately be a big test for me.” Zverev has a 4-0 record against Wawrinka (37).

Germany is the favorite at the Davis Cup in Trier

The selection of the German Tennis Association (DTB) fights in Trier for the place in the final tournament with 16 teams in November in Malaga. Germany, which has won all nine duels against Switzerland in the traditional competition (first held in 1900), is slightly favored on paper. The Trier Arena will be sold out with around 4,000 people on all competition days. “It’s always very pleasant and very important for us to play in a full stadium – especially in the Davis Cup,” said Zverev. “I think when it comes to the nation, we feel the support even more. I’m looking forward to it; and I think the lads are looking forward to it too.” The two Davis Cup veterans Boris Becker and Eric Jelen, the together 1988 and Won the Davis Cup for Germany in 1989will also be in Trier.

The severe torn ligament, which put Zverev out of action for a long time last year, says he is no longer a burden. “I feel very good at the moment. But I also felt very good in Australia. It’s the match practice, playing tennis, that I missed a lot. And I think it’s getting better every week.”

Tim Pütz is looking forward to the Trier Davis Cup audience

Before Zverev intervenes in the tournament, Oscar Otte has to deal with Marc-Andrea Huesler in the fight for qualification for the final tournament from 5 p.m. That was the result of the draw in the Trier Arena on Thursday. In doubles on Saturday (1 p.m.), Andreas Mies and Tim Pütz are expected to meet Alexander Ritschard and Leandro Riedi. Pütz is also looking forward to the game: “We’ve had a great week here. We’ve all trained well, there are hardly any open construction sites, so the weekend can come.”

Two more individual games may then be necessary to determine the winner. The team that gets three wins first wins the duel. “We have a very, very good team. But at the end of the day we also have to show our best tennis,” said Zverev.

The appointments at a glance:

Friday from 5 p.m.: 1st match: Oscar Otte (Cologne) – Marc-Andrea Huesler 2nd match: Alexander Zverev (Hamburg) – Stan Wawrinka

Saturday from 1 p.m.: 3rd match (doubles): Andreas Mies (Cologne)/Tim Pütz (Frankfurt) – Alexander Ritschard and Leandro Riedi

If necessary, a maximum of two further individual games are then played.

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