GERMANY is one of the outside contenders when it comes to the ATP Cup, with enough talent that is balanced across four players to make it work. Thanks to a Top 10 first singles player, solid second singles player and Top 20 doubles pairing, the European nation could ruffle more than a few feathers at the nations tournament.

TEAM:

Alexander Zverev
Jan-Lennard Struff
Kevin Krawietz
Andreas Mies

Starting at the top, Alexander Zverev had a roaring finish to 2020, winning back-to-back tournaments in Cologne and looking very strong on the hard courts. While he did not go as far as he would have liked in the ATP Finals against the best of the best, he showed enough to suggest 2021 might be the year that he takes a step up to compete at the next level.

Zverev was agonisingly close to winning a Grand Slam title being two sets up and match points against Dominic Thiem, only to lose in five sets at the US Open. Having won titles post that event, it showed Zverev had enough maturity to regain composure and continue his great form. Hard court is his preferred surface, and you can never count him out against anyone. The big question with the German 23-year-old has always been can you trust him on a consistent basis?

He will need to win a bulk of his games for Germany to advance, especially if they do not receive Austria in their group, though they are not completely out of it if Zverev does not win. Jan-Lennard Struff is a handy second player, and whilst like Zverev his game does rely a lot around his serve – well, more so than Zverev given he has less weapons that his higher ranked teammate – he can cause issues to any player. He does go through form patches where he can lose to anyone, so the same question marks apply to him, but at his best, he is a really solid Top 30 player.

The doubles pairing of Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies is tried and tested, with the pair ranked inside the Top 20 and are doubles partners on the ATP Tour circuit. Unlike a lot of other doubles pairings in this event, the German duo are very familiar with each other’s games and play at every tournament together which is a huge positive for the ATP Cup chances. They are one of the best combinations, which is why if they and Zverev can be on their games, then Germany will win.

It is not out of the realms of possibility for Germany to take out the whole ATP Cup, but they need a bit of luck to go with it, and the good, rather than the bad Zverev to be out there. If that happens, then no opposition team is safe, and Germany would be a great chance to at least reach the semis, especially if Zverev can take a big scalp in the group stage.

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