Germany secure clash with Great Britain in last eight of Davis Cup Finals
Doubles stars Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz came good for Germany as they edged out Austria 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz joined forces to send Germany into the last eight of the Davis Cup Finals as they secured the match-winning point in a 2-1 win over Austria at the Davis Cup Finals on Sunday.
The two-time French Open champions outgunned Olivier Marach and Philipp Oswald 6-3, 6-4 to give Germany the victory they needed to finish on top of Group F. They’ll play Great Britain in the quarter-finals in Innsbruck on Tuesday.
Austria make fast start as Rodionov upsets Koepfer
Germany needed their doubles specialists to come good after Dominik Koepfer was surprisingly beaten, 6-1, 7-5 by Jurij Rodionov in the opening singles match.
Struff holds his nerve to level
That result put the Germans under real pressure and a win for Dennis Novak would meant Serbia. led by Novak Djokovic, would have topped the group instead.
But Jan Lennard-Struff held his nerve to beat Novak 7-5, 6-4 and take the match into a decider.
Krawietz and Puetz secure victory for Germany
With a Grand Slam-winning pair to call on in the doubles, Germany were favourites to get the job done in the decider, not least since Krawietz and Puetz had beaten Novak Djokovic and Serbia in their first match.
Krawietz and Puetz broke early on the way to the first set and then served out for victory in the second to secure a clash with former champions Britain in the last eight.