Boris Becker leaned in consternation on an advertising board, Alexander Zverev’s gaze went blank, and Daniel Altmaier cried into his towel – the surprising end in the Davis Cup hit Germany’s tennis men to the core. After many successful years, in which Germany was a regular guest in the final round of the prestigious competition, Zverev and Co. are now only concerned with staying up in the world group after the 2: 3 against Switzerland in Trier in September. A painful realization – but also one that confirms the trend in German men’s tennis.
Because apart from the successes in the Davis Cup, German men’s tennis has lost touch with the world’s best behind Zverev. This has already become clear in the past few months because Zverev was out due to his serious foot injury. The Olympic champion is the only top player who has covered a lot with his performances in recent years. There has been a big hole behind Zverev for quite some time. Only Oscar Otte (80th) and Daniel Altmaier (91st) are currently in the top 100 – far too few for what is still the largest tennis association in the world.
“Of course that’s not what we want,” said DTB President Dietloff von Arnim, who gave Altmaier a fatherly hug on the way to the press conference after his defeat in the decisive singles game against Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka. At 24, Altmaier is the only slightly younger player besides Zverev who at least partially meets higher standards.
You will look in vain for players with prospects from the younger generation
There is currently nothing behind it. Jan-Lennard Struff, who was injured in Trier and otherwise always a reliable point supplier in the Davis Cup, is already 32. Oscar Otte, who is currently looking for his form, is 29 years old. You will look in vain for players with prospects from the younger generation.
And so only Zverev remains, who still has a long way to go to his old strength after his serious foot injury. In Trier, the 25-year-old showed a strong performance in the win against Wawrinka on Friday, which gave hope for more. “That was my best performance since the injury,” said Zverev. On Saturday, however, he again fell far short of his potential when he lost the top individual against Marc-Andrea Hüsler.
As bitter as that is: Unfortunately, there will still be such matches in the process.
Alexander Zverev on his defeat against Marc-Andrea Hüsler.
“As bitter as that is: Unfortunately, there will still be such matches in the process,” said Zverev, who does not want to despair. “At the end of the day it was much better than in Australia, but not nearly as good as it needs to be,” said the German number one. Zverev wants to make the next attempt at the ATP tournament in Rotterdam the week after next to regain security in his game.
By the clay-court season in April and May, he wants to be back where he was before his injury sustained in the French Open semifinals. “My goal is to play my best tennis again for the clay court season. If it comes sooner, all the better. But I think Monte Carlo is a realistic goal,” said the native of Hamburg, referring to the tournament in his adopted country in mid-April.
On the other hand, Zverev and Co. have to shelve the Davis Cup goal for this year. “It’s bitter,” said team boss Michael Kohlmann, who showed himself to be combative even at the moment of great disappointment. “Switzerland was a bit better. But we won’t let our dreams fall,” said Kohlmann, referring to the first team title since 1993. (dpa)
Source: Tagesspiegel
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
