HAMBURG (DPA) – German tennis men enter the Davis Cup final tournament as undefeated group winners and meet Canada there. At the end of the home game at Rothenbaum, Hamburg, team manager Michael Kohlmann’s team won 2–1 against Australia and thus celebrated their third victory in their third encounter.
Germany will take on the Canadian players in the quarter-finals in Malaga on 24 November. If they win, the next opponents in the semi-finals will be USA or Italy. Last year the DTB selection reached the semi-finals. It is unclear whether Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who has suffered a leg injury, may be in Málaga.
The deciding point in Hamburg once again doubles Kevin Kravitz/Tim Putz won 6:4, 6:4 against Wimbledon winners Matthew Ebden/Max Purcell. The German pair went undefeated in the eighth game of the Davis Cup.
Jan-Lenard Struff had previously given Germany the lead, as in victories against France and Belgium. The 32-year-old easily won 6:1, 7:5 against doubles specialist Purcell. Later, Oscar Otte also lost his third person in the days of Hamburg. The 29-year-old had no chance against Thanasi Kokinakis in 6:7 (6:8), 1:6, especially in the second round.
Kollschreiber says goodbye to Davis Cup team
Two and a half months after the end of his career, Philipp Kollschreiber was sacked from the Davis Cup team by the German Tennis Association (DTB). DTB president Dietlof von Arnim presented the 38-year-old with a photo collage of his appearance for Germany in Hamburg, and Kolschreiber was also honored with a compilation of his successes on the video wall of the Center Court in Rothenbaum. «It was a huge journey that I was able to experience. I experienced the most emotional moments in Davis Cup. I was lucky that I played very well there,” said Kollschreiber.
Augsburger ended his career in late June after qualifying for Wimbledon. “In total you were nominated for the Davis Cup 22 times. You are one of those players who often played for Germany, ”said von Arnim. Kohlschreiber has earned approximately $14 million in prize money and has won eight tournaments in a career spanning 21 years. In the world rankings, their best result was a 16th place finish in July 2012.
