DAVIS CUP FINALS

December 4, 2021

Michael Kohlmann

Team Germany

Press Conference

KRAWIETZ-PUETZ/Karatsev-Khachanov

4-6, 6-3, 6-4

Russian Tennis Federation - 2

Germany - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Could you maybe reflect on today's matches and then the general performance overall.

MICHAEL KOHLMANN: First of all, I think I have to congratulate Russia for both singles. I mean, they dominated both singles and showed their strength. Both of them, I mean, they showed why they are No. 2 and No. 5 in the world.

I think in both matches actually we couldn't get them into situations where they would start thinking a little bit. They were always in their comfort zone, playing from top to bottom actually.

Yeah, that was I think the only thing which I'm now a little bit disappointed that we couldn't be in one spot where we had actually the chance of getting the spectators involved because I thought the neutral spectators maybe were a little bit more on our side. You heard that at the last chance, that was our only breakpoint in four sets of singles. That's the only thing I think was a little bit missing.

I mean, overall we can be very proud to be here, to get to Madrid. We had three really tough wins in Innsbruck. I think we showed strong performances there throughout the week. Nobody actually expected us to be in the semifinals. We got through the tough group. I mean, we beat Serbia with the No. 1 of the world. We had a tough win against Great Britain.

I mean, right now I'm a little bit disappointed, but overall I think maybe in a couple days... I'm really proud of our performance, of our development throughout the years now. First time since 14 years we are back in the semifinals.

That's not the end. I think we are ready to go couple steps further. It wasn't our time this year, but we are ready for it next year again.

Q. After having to play behind closed doors in Innsbruck, what did it mean to the team to be able to play in front of a full crowd today?

MICHAEL KOHLMANN: Yeah, was something special. We were missing the fans. Actually I think in Innsbruck we were missing a lot of German fans. We heard that ticket sales before the event were really good. We heard that our tie against Austria was sold out or close to sold out.

I mean, we don't know yet, but we were definitely missing. When we saw the pictures from Turin and also here from Madrid, full capacity, full stadiums, that's always the topping, the cream on the cake. Also for the players it makes it different.

We are having a great team chemistry. We had a great time in Innsbruck. But obviously fans would make a big difference always.