DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 25, 2022

Michael Kohlmann

Kevin Krawietz

Tim Puetz

Team Germany

Press Conference

POSPISIL-SHAPOVALOV/Krawietz-Puetz

2-6, 6-3, 6-3

Team Canada - 2

Team Germany - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Commiserations today. Could I have your assessment of the tie overall?

CAPTAIN KOHLMANN: It's a tough loss for us, obviously. I thought, first of all, it was a great tie, it was a tough tie, it was an exciting tie. I think, what, we played for seven hours? I think first match had everything in it, what you expect from a first match in a Davis Cup tie quarterfinals. Struffi was serving for the match. Got broken. Won it.

I think another big win for him, for Germany, in Davis Cup. I think what is Shapovalov, 23 or 24 in the world? Struffi is right now 140. So that's a great win for him.

I think Oscar played a really good match against Felix. Felix showed why he's No. 6 in the world, especially the close moments I think he didn't make one stupid mistake. You know, he played very concentrated. Served well the whole time.

I think Felix deserved to win. Oscar couldn't get in the deciding moments a little bit. He was always on the back foot. He couldn't be active enough, but that's because Felix played well.

Then the doubles, I mean, they started brilliantly, I thought. The first set was unbelievable. Then we couldn't carry the momentum a little bit, you know. I think the Canadian guys, they were starting to think, and a little bit negative, but in the beginning of the second set we got a break which could happen but shouldn't happen, and from that point on, I thought that the Canadians were like playing on a different level.

They raised their level unbelievable. Served huge. We couldn't get any opportunities. I think we had one breakpoint at 4-2 in the, or 2-4 down in the second, but they served an ace. There was not a real chance.

In the end we have to say the Canadians then in the end played better than us and deserved to win.

Q. Kevin, from your own perspective, you made a great start. What were your reflections on the match today?

KEVIN KRAWIETZ: Yeah, no, very disappointed, of course. It's a tough loss for us. Yeah, but I think the whole team showed that we can compete with everybody. Doesn't matter who is playing for us.

Yeah, as Michael said, Struffi played unbelievable match. Also Oscar played a very good level.

Yeah, like the German soccer team, they play also unbelievable until 60 minutes. Maybe we too. Only the first set and then we cannot finish it (smiling).

Yeah, it happens. Of course very disappointed. We wanted to help the team for the second point, but could not make it today. Then, yeah, they deserved to win.

Q. Tim, I know you must be disappointed now, but it's been another excellent year for the team overall. Could you maybe reflect on what you have achieved again this year?

TIM PUETZ: Yeah, as you say, for us it was a -- I mean, very disappointed right now, of course, but I think in maybe a couple days or maybe even already tomorrow, you know, we can realize what we achieved in these last, not only this year but last year already.

I think we are one of the nations competing, yeah, for the Davis Cup, we have shown this numerous times now all while not having our best player, to be honest. Sascha typically, if he's there, he's willing to play, you know, just couldn't be there this year. I think he would probably make us even a little bit stronger.

He's a guy that can compete with guys like Felix, would make our team even a little bit deeper. I think it's all positive. You know, yeah, obviously quite disappointed right now, but we gave ourselves a chance and didn't work out this time. Yeah, I think in a couple days' time, I think we'll be quite positive with the development of our Davis Cup team over the last years.

Q. Tim and Kevin, can you just explain exactly what the discussion was at the end of the second set with the chair umpire? That ball was out? I didn't catch exactly what was happening with the discussion.

TIM PUETZ: Yeah, I think the ball was out by, I don't think I'm exaggerating, a meter, I think. But the machine didn't go off, or I don't know. But nobody said anything. The umpire didn't catch it. I think she just wasn't paying attention, understandably, because you usually don't have to pay attention with this machine.

We said, Well, the ball was out by one meter. We asked. They showed the replay. That was all we could do at this point. We asked for the replay.

The Canadians had already left the court, I think. So it took a little bit of time. I think that was all that was happening. Then they got a first serve, served a double fault, very fair of them, and then closed out the set in the next point.

CAPTAIN KOHLMANN: I think they forgot to turn on the machine. That's what the umpire told us afterwards. That's why it didn't go off.