Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz have secured their place in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals. In doing so, they have made German tennis history.
The tennis doubles players Kevin Krawietz (32) and Tim Pütz (36) themselves are surprised by their strong performance at the season finale. “It’s just not the normal form anymore, considering the year we’ve had,” said Pütz after the next brilliant game, with which the two have already written a chapter of German tennis history. ‘We’re not going to assume that the way we played is normal,’ he said, ”because that can only lead to disappointment, because the last two matches were really, really good.”
With two wins in their first two group matches, Krawietz/Pütz have secured their place in the semi-finals in their first appearance together at the ATP Finals – making them the first German doubles team to do so in the tournament’s 55-year history. The eight best doubles teams of the year are competing in Turin. Krawietz/Pütz are ranked as the eighth-best team.
Saturday it’s about getting into the final
Unimpressed by the large crowd of spectators, which is rarely seen in the doubles competition, the German Davis Cup duo defeated the Italian local heroes Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-5, 6-4 in Turin. The US Open finalists had defeated the number one seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic (El Salvador/Croatia) in the opening match.
On Friday (11:30 a.m./Sky), the final group match against Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden (India/Australia) is scheduled, before they play for a place in the final on Saturday.
The success is all the more surprising given that Pütz had to take several weeks off shortly before the ATP Finals due to a torn calf muscle. “A week and a half ago, I could hardly move,” he said. “It’s probably not the ideal preparation, but maybe that’s why I’m relaxed. The fact that we can play here is actually a bonus.”
