IT has seemed a world away since Spain lifted the 2019 Davis Cup. While the 2020 edition was ultimately cancelled and had to be postponed until 2021, it gives tennis fans extra time to work out what teams might look like when it recommences.

Draft Central will take a look at various nations over the break and see what the team might look like. Today’s team is Germany, who have moved up four places since the last Davis Cup, into number eight in the world. While only narrowly a point ahead of Italy in ninth, the well-balanced unit is one to watch into the future.

TEAM:

#7 Alexander Zverev
#36 Jan-Lennard Struff
#19D Kevin Krawietz
#20D Andreas Mies

Germany has already booked its spot in the Davis Cup Finals after pantsing Belarus 4-1 in March last year. The Germans did that without their top player Alexander Zverev, who when on hard court could beat anyone in the world based on his 2020 form. Germany has a straight forward line-up to choose with the two standout singles players, and two standout doubles players, and enough depth to call upon if injuries or unavailabilities strike.

Zverev had by far his best season in 2020, finding more consistency and beginning to look more like a threat deeper in tournaments. He was near-unbeatable in Germany and at 23-years-old is much younger than anyone else inside the Top 100 for the European nation. He could challenge most of the top teams and get the Germans off to a great start, whilst second singles player Jan-Lennard Struff – who for the good part of a decade has played as the number one singles player – is more than handy.

Struff relies a lot on his serve, and does not have as many weapons as Zverev, but when on his game, is a difficult player to break. He had no troubles leading the side to victory over Belarus, and while he is not a number one singles choice anymore, is better than quite a few second singles choices. He can also play doubles as the 53rd ranked overall, and third German doubles player for his nation.

Luckily he would not need to, with familiar doubles combination in Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies ranked inside the Top 20. Both are the logical choices to team up in the Davis Cup, and will do so again when the nation next takes to the court. Others who might be in the extended squad include Dominik Koepfer, Yannick Hanfmann and Daniel Altmaier who have all shown good form in 2020, while veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber‘s best days are behind him, but he can still add important experience to the side.

Picture: Tennis World USA