Tennis – Kohlmann is critical of the back and forth in the Davis Cup – Sport

Hamburg (dpa) – Team boss Michael Kohlmann regrets the increased format change in the Davis Cup. “The many changes make it difficult to understand, especially for people who are not tennis-savvy.” “I said at some point that if there is another change, then it has to be right,” said Kohlmann (50) in an interview with Sport1.

“The normal person who is interested in sports, who perhaps also enjoys watching tennis, can sometimes no longer keep up,” said Kohlmann: “That’s a shame because the Davis Cup was an institution and easy to understand.”

Just last week, the world association announced that from 2025 the group phase in September will no longer be held. Instead, the nations will play in a home or away game for a place in the final round. Kohlmann welcomes this change and thinks it is “very good” because “the atmosphere when traveling home and away is completely different.”

This year the German team had to compete in China in September. The awarding of the tournament to Zhuhai, without the host nation being represented, was met with considerable criticism because of the long journeys for the teams.

Did Zverev play in Malaga?

Significantly weakened, the German selection made it to the final round of the top eight from November 19th to 24th in Malaga. For the fight for the first German Davis Cup title since 1993, Kohlmann has not yet given up hope of using top player Alexander Zverev.

“I know that the Davis Cup is also very important to Zverev.” At the same time, he is of course pursuing ambitious goals. “I hope that Alexander’s goals coincide with our goals and that we manage to field a top line-up,” he said.

Kohlmann left a place open in his squad for the possible nomination of the French Open finalist. Zverev had stated in the past that he wanted to win the Davis Cup one day. However, he also criticizes the short break at the end of the season and is currently suffering from lung problems.

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