The German men’s tennis team will rely on the recently injured Alexander Zverev and Oscar Otte for the Davis Cup intermediate round in Hamburg.
In addition to the two top players, team manager Michael Kohlmann also nominated Jan-Lennard Struff and doubles specialists Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz. “I am convinced that it is a powerful team that can qualify for the finals in Malaga,” Kohlmann said at the presentation. There were “a few question marks” due to the recent injuries to Zverev and Otte, but he was “in good spirits”.
Last week, Olympic champion Zverev confirmed that he would start. The world number two had undergone surgery at the beginning of June after tearing three ligaments in his right ankle. He was “very confident” that Zverev would be fit in time for the Davis Cup, Kohlmann said of the 25-year-old, who is also hoping to start at the US Open. “Whether he can do that, I would put a few question marks behind that,” the Davis Cup captain said.
Otte fit again after surgery
Also like Zverev, Oscar Otte is already back on the tennis court after an operation on the medial meniscus four weeks ago. The knee feels “mega stable”, the 29-year-old said. “We are on a good way, it looks very good for the Davis Cup.” He also said that participation in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year in New York from 29 August was “very realistic”.
The German team had won the qualification in Brazil with this line-up. In the intermediate round at Rothenbaum, they will play France (14 September), Belgium (16 September) and Australia (18 September). The top two teams in each group will reach the quarter-finals, which will take place in Malaga from 21 to 27 November, as will the entire knockout phase. In the round of the best eight teams, the selection of the German Tennis Federation could face Spain or Serbia as the group winner.