A single win is all that separates Germany from reaching the last four of the Davis Cup for the first time since 2007 after a dramatic doubles performance from Jan-Lennard Struff and Tim Puetz.
Playing in just their third doubles match together in the team competition, the duo battled their way past Feliciano and Marc Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 7-5. A Spanish duo that won the 2016 French Open, but is yet to claim victory as a doubles team in the Davis Cup. During the match, which lasted more than four hours, Struff and Puetz produced a combined winner count of 76. Nearly double that of Spain, which was 43.
“That was a very tough match. We were always trying to motivate each other,” Stuff said during the on-court interview. “We had to push each other and try to play more calm in the fifth set.”
“I’m just so happy we managed to get the win today, It’s one of the greatest matches of my career for sure.” He added.
During the early stages of the encounter, the German’s tactic was to go after Marc’s serve. Which at times lacked in power and caused him difficulty. Four games into the match, Struff and Puetz got their first breakthrough. Dismantling Marc’s serve, a Struff winner secured their break for a 3-1 lead.
Germany up by a set and a break now with play like this
1️⃣1️⃣ #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/2MoYR5KSZJ
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) 7 April 2018
Cheered on by their home team, the Lopez duo tried to respond, but was unable to break down their rivals. Who sealed the 6-4 lead in just 37 minutes.
Hopes of a Spanish comeback fluctuated throughout the second set. Five break point chances came and went after four games into the set. Germany also saw chances come and go, but remained the more consistent team on the court to secure another break. As the drizzle started to fall, so did the mood of the crowd. The Struff-Puetz one-way streak continued to surge as they clinched a two-set lead with the help of a delicate drop-shot at the net from Puetz.
The Spanish resistance
It wasn’t until two hours and 13 minutes into the match that Spain got some momentum behind them in the clash. Triggering an eruption of jubilation within the bullring. A carefully crafted Marc Lopez drop-shot converted the pair their first break point in the match to move ahead 5-3 in set number 3. Continuing to illustrate the tennis which took them to the Roland Garros title almost two years ago. A Feliciano Lopez serve then secured the third set to the delight of world No.1 Rafael Nadal, who was cheering from the sidelines.
When the takes you @RafaelNadal
1️⃣1️⃣ #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/l7h4A5gTO9
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) 7 April 2018
A revived Lopez and Lopez provided the German duo with plenty of food for thought. Feeding off the home support, they continued to battle hard. Matching the Germans game-by-game. After losing a break advantage, they managed to force the proceedings into a tiebreaker, which saw Puetz buckle with a duo of unforced errors. Resulting the match going into a final set.
There continued to be little disparity between the two teams until the final point was played. The heroic efforts of Lopez and Lopez draw praise from their fans, but it still wasn’t enough. After ten games went by with no break, Struff and Puetz got the breakthrough to move ahead 6-5 before closing the match out with a love service game. Elevating their country to a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup tie.
“In doubles it is very tough to change back momentum, so we had to go back to basics as Marc Lopez in particular was playing unbelievable tennis.” Said German captain Michael Kohlmann. “It was 50/50 in the end, we got a bit lucky, but it feels great.”
Going into the final day of the Clash, Germany needs to win one of the next two matches to book a place in the semifinals. Should they win, it would be the first time Spain has lost a Davis Cup tie on home soil since 1999. World No.1 Nadal will start the third day against Alexander Zverev.
