Thanasi Kokkinakis has dragged Australia again into their remaining Davis Cup group tie in opposition to Germany, beating the hosts’ top-ranked participant Oscar Otte in Hamburg.
Lleyton Hewitt’s experimental-looking Aussie outfit had misplaced the opening rubber on Sunday when Max Purcell went down in straight units to Jan-Lennard Struff.
Thanasi Kokkinakis in motion for Australia in opposition to Oscar Otte, of Germany, throughout their Davis Cup group stage tie in Hamburg on Sunday.Credit score:Getty Photos
Along with his crew’s qualification for the finals shoot-out in Malaga in November already assured, captain Hewitt had rung the adjustments by drafting in two new singles gamers.
That meant a tricky singles baptism for debutant Purcell, who’s been shining within the doubles with two victories, as he needed to sort out big-hitting Struff in entrance of a partisan full-house within the Rothenbaum Enviornment.
Alexander Zverev, who had been meaning to make his comeback to competitors after his surprising damage within the French Open semi-final in opposition to Rafael Nadal solely to endure a setback in coaching this week, was additionally at courtside, cheering for Struff along with his German teammates.
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Blown away within the first set, Purcell regrouped to make a combat of it within the second stanza, earlier than shedding 6-1, 7-5 to Struff, who made it three wins out of three for the week.
However Kokkinakis, who was unable to take his place within the singles alongside Alex de Minaur earlier within the week as a result of he was affected by flu-like signs, appeared again to his sharpest as he defeated Otte 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 to stage affairs at 1-1.
That left Purcell with an opportunity to make amends for his earlier loss as he teamed up with Matt Ebden within the deciding doubles, the Wimbledon champions being introduced with a formidable problem in opposition to German pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz.
