- Following the discussion, the Davis Cup squad is off to a prosperous commencement in China.
After the controversy surrounding the assignment of Davis Cup matches to China, the German men's tennis team started their journey towards the final with a flourish, defeating Slovakia 3-0. Star player Alexander Zverev was missing, but Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz, both finalists at the US Open, stepped up to the plate.
Victory was sweet for Philippe Steiner, who breathed a sigh of relief after the match. Team captain Frederick Muller noted, "It was essential to start with a victory. Now we have two crucial matches ahead."
Kramer safeguards Slovakia's potential tie
Germany had already established a comfortable lead during the single matches played between Marterer and Yannick Kramer, and Hanfmann versus Jozef Kovalik, in their initial group contest. Marterer clinched a hard-fought victory against Lukas Klein with a 6-4, 7-5 scoreline. Hanfmann, despite not recording his best form, recovered from a set down to claim victory 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) against Kovalik.
Kramer, a product of Karlsruhe, was far from his top game but managed to turn the tide in their favor and avoid a potential equalizer. At 4-5 in the third set, he even saved a match point. Moments later, Kramer secured the crucial second point for Germany.
In the concluding doubles match, Pütz and Krawietz, fresh from their New York loss, demonstrated resilience. Despite their short rest, they emerged victorious, winning against Klein and Igor Zelenay by 7-5, 6-3.
"Winning while holding a 2-0 lead was a significant advantage for us. It took away the pressure and made the match easier," said Pütz. "I believe we performed well under the given circumstances," he conceded, admitting he was "exhausted" but also "happy" with their triumphant start.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) awarding the German group C to China had brought about numerous travel issues, and sparked harsh criticism. "I think all the teams here agree that playing here is almost senseless," Muller had expressed.
Marterer: "There could be an unexpected outcome"
Despite the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, the Germans remained steadfast on the court. On Thursday, the strong team, lacking Zverev, as well as Jan-Lennard Struff, Dominik Koepfer, and Daniel Altmaier, will face Chile.
"We've all been preparing diligently. We are used to these conditions. I believe there could be an unexpected outcome on Thursday," Marterer predicted. The USA would be the final group contestant on Saturday.
With the world's top four singles players absent from the German squad, Marterer and Hanfmann now take center stage. Both players grappled with nerves during the first of three group matches. Hanfmann, ranked as the German number 1 and 96th internationally, showcased a strong serving game against the Slovakians, while Marterer, ranked 104th globally, had a successful outing.
"I think I did quite well," said the Nuremberg native. "I hope I can maintain this level of performance for the upcoming matches. Then we could be in for a very successful week."
After their victory over Slovakia, Germany prepared for their next match against Chile in Zhuhai. Marterer expressed his confidence, suggesting that there could be an unexpected outcome during the contest.
Despite playing without some of their top players, the German team had chosen to base themselves in Zhuhai for this tournament.
