Hamburg, Aug. 14, 2025
The German Davis Cup team is gearing up for a crucial second qualifying round in Tokyo, Japan, but they’ll be doing so without their star player, Alexander Zverev. Team captain Michael Kohlmann expressed a cautious optimism despite the absence of Germany’s top talent, who will not be available in August and September.
German Davis Cup team faces Japan without Zverev
Germany’s Davis Cup squad heads to Tokyo for a vital qualification tie, minus their biggest name. Captain Kohlmann is leaning on experience for this challenging fixture.
- Germany’s Davis Cup team will compete in Tokyo without Alexander Zverev.
- The squad includes Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann, Jan-Lennard Struff, and doubles specialists Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz.
- A victory secures a spot in the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna from November 18-23.
- Zverev could rejoin the team if they qualify, as his ATP Finals participation concludes on November 16.
Without Alexander Zverev, the German Davis Cup team must navigate their second and final qualification round against host nation Japan in Tokyo.
Team boss Michael Kohlmann has selected Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann, Jan-Lennard Struff, and the formidable doubles pairing of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz for the September 12th and 13th encounter. The tie format includes two singles matches on the first day, followed by a doubles match and two more singles rubbers on the second.
The winner of this crucial tie earns a coveted spot in the Davis Cup Finals, scheduled for November 18-23 in Bologna. Should Germany emerge victorious, Zverev, currently ranked among the top eight players, could potentially rejoin the team, as the ATP Finals conclude on November 16.
Experience is Key in Tokyo
Kohlmann emphasized the need for experience in Japan. “To survive in Japan, we will need a lot of experience,” he stated. “Therefore, I am pleased that I can use a tried-and-tested team that convinced at the Davis Cup finals in Málaga in 2024.” He added, “All five nominated players enjoy playing for Germany and know how to handle the special pressure in this competition.”
Notably, Zverev was also absent from Germany’s successful first qualifying round against Israel. At that time, the Hamburg-born star had withdrawn early to focus on recovering from the Australian Open. Jan-Lennard Struff, who has recently climbed back to world ranking position 143, was also sidelined due to an infection during that tie.
Germany and Japan have a historical Davis Cup rivalry. Their last meeting was in 1933, where the Japanese team secured a 4:1 victory in Berlin. Kohlmann cautioned against underestimating the current Japanese squad. “With Kei Nishikori, the Japanese have a top player in their ranks who is currently working his way back to the top of the world,” Kohlmann warned. “Shintaro Mochizuki and Yoshihito Nishioka, their number 2 and 3, are very uncomfortable opponents.”
