DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 24, 2022

Jan-Lennard Struff

Team Germany

Press Conference

J. STRUFF/D. Shapovalov

6-3, 4-6, 7-6

Team Germany - 1

Team Canada - 0

THE MODERATOR: We will start with questions in English.

Q. Well done. That was a heck of a battle that you had eventually. Serving at 5-3 for the match, what changed? What clicked? What didn't happen for you? How were you able to maintain the focus to close it out?

JAN-LENNARD STRUFF: Yeah, it was tough game, I would say. I think I played, like I talked with Khola on the bench, I played maybe two too many serve and volley in that game. I didn't play bad volleys, but Shapo was returning well and passing very well.

I mean, on the match point, I think I played a good point. It was just a bit unlucky. Everybody knows tough volleys are -- I mean, I was very short or close to the net, and I had my racquet there, and it just went at the net cord. It was a bit unlucky, because was very fast, I had two good ones before, and I didn't saw that point as like a mistake, tough mistake on match point.

But still it was brutal to get the break there. I was so close. I managed to stay in the game. He served and he served like this on the line when I thought it was out, and then I saw the mark, it was like this as well, like it showed. Yeah, it was very tough to stay mental, calm, but pushing as well.

Yeah, just very happy I could get the victory for Germany, the first point, and hopefully we can get a second one.

Q. Well done. You have a great record in Davis Cup, 12 wins, 8 loss. Is this the most important that you have done or the biggest, the best player you have beaten or the best match you played? Or there are others? Also, okay, you went down the rankings, I know you were injured, you had problems probably your confidence, but, I mean, what do you expect of yourself? I mean, to become a top 20? Your best ranking's 29. It's difficult to get better?

JAN-LENNARD STRUFF: Yeah, I mean, it's always special to play for Germany. We have such a good team behind the players. We connect very good. I think we have a good atmosphere and a great team spirit. That makes it special to play for Germany.

That makes it special for me to play, and that motivates me and gives me a lot of confidence when the guys are outside and like pushing. As well, Italy is doing a good job there, has team spirit as well, I think, with a good victory today.

Personally for me was very tough season. Was injured. Was not starting well the season. Yeah, ranking dropped I think 150 now, so I will start quallies Australian Open.

Had some good matches, good tournaments in between since the injury, but was not that easy and it's not easy to come back that fast. I mean, the challenger level, the players, I think the level, the quality has raised in the last years, yeah, big time.

I feel like a lot of good players are out there. It's not that easy to go back to top 100 that fast. I mean, I will try. I'm not the youngest guy. I'm 32, but I just want to play some more years, definitely. I want to come back and play good tennis. You said top 20. First step is to come back top 100. Then we can talk again.

It's tough. If I play like this today, definitely I can reach it, but let's see what the next year brings. I'm totally motivated to come back.

Q. How much pressure were you feeling today? On the one hand you were coming back from injury and obviously not necessarily expected to win. On the other hand, with Oscar having a tough match against Felix, many people maybe thought this was a must-win to give you a chance for the doubles.

JAN-LENNARD STRUFF: Yeah, I mean, Canada's team is very strong. They are favorites in this tie. But we said, Hey, let's fight every point. If we have good team spirit, we give everything, we can reach the semis maybe.

Very important definitely. I played Shapo many times. I was leading the head-to-head, but on hard court he was leading 3-2, so pretty tough match, I would say.

Yeah, definitely Felix has such a high run last weeks, three tournaments in a row, amazing. Very tough match for Oscar. Yeah, we have one point. It's still a long way to go, but Oscar is such a good player. I hope he has a chance to beat him. I mean, I believe in this, but it's a very tough matchup, definitely. They played in I think Florence some weeks ago. It was three sets.

Yeah, it's always tough to say it's a must-win, but, yeah, I think we take every point we can get here.

THE MODERATOR: Just quick words on Italy in case Germany goes through.

JAN-LENNARD STRUFF: Yeah, it's still a long way, so I cannot say anything before. We have one point. We need another one, and then we can think about the rest. Right now I just can't say.

Italy did a very good job today and beat USA, which is incredible, because USA were a bit the favorites, I would say. They did a very good job today.