The pressure from the fans at Parque Olímpico da Barra, in Rio de Janeiro, was not enough to promote a Brazilian victory in the Davis Cup this Saturday (5).
With 3-1 on aggregate, Olympic champion Alexander Zverev’s Germany got the better of the head-to-head and overcame Brazil in the race towards the final group stage of the men’s tennis tournament between national teams.
Brazilian best ranked by the ATP (Association of Professional Tennis Players), the Ceará Thiago Monteiro (114th) had secured an important triumph in his debut, but was no match for the current number 3 in the world. He ended up defeated by 2 sets to 0 (partial 6/1 and 7/5) in the match that decreed the final result of the qualifier.
Earlier, the Germans had also confirmed favoritism in the duel between doubles. Bruno Soares (19th) and Felipe Meligeni (92nd) played a very balanced game, but they did not resist in the final part of the third set and gave the comeback by 6/4, 6/7 and 4/6 to Tim Puetz (12th) and Kevin Krawietz (14th).
The last match scheduled for the best of five, between Thiago Wild and Jan-Lennard Struff, did not need to be played.
Now, the Brazilian team will face the World Group 1 repechage, to try to get back to the classification stage next season.
With the result won away from home, Germany secured a spot among the 16 finalists that will compete for the Davis Cup title in November, at a venue that has not yet been defined.
This Saturday’s round (5) had started with the score tied at 1 to 1, after the results of the first singles duels the day before.
The clash between Bruno Soares and Felipe Meligeni against Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz was exciting, packed by the excited Brazilian fans.
Brazil won the first set, highlighting a performance full of confidence and personality on the part of Meligeni. The choice of captain Jaime Oncins by the 24-year-old from São Paulo, in place of the experienced Marcelo Melo, 38, had been considered a surprise.
The duel continued evenly in the second part, but the Germans gave less chances and managed to draw in the tie-break. In the third round, the opponents were superior and showed greater decision-making power, especially in the final bids, to confirm the turn.
“Their great merit was having served very well. Felipe started the game very well. In the third set, they lacked a little luck. They ended up saving the break point and served very well in the end. It was worth the fight”, summarized the veteran. Bruno Soares.
With 2 to 1 on the scoreboard, Germany went to the first “match point” of the confrontation with the vacancy in the hands of Zverev.
The protagonists of the most awaited clash of the day had faced each other only once on the world circuit. Thiago Monteiro’s victory in a distant Challenger in Panama, in 2014, fed Brazil’s hopes.
The Olympic champion, however, managed to show enormous emotional control under the provocations of the crowd and ran over the Brazilian in the first set, 6-1.
Between the looting of the German, the stands echoed, for example, shouts of “Acapulco”. A reference to Zverev’s exclusion from the recent Mexican ATP 500, after furious rackets in the referee’s chair.
Even with an evident improvement in the Brazilian’s performance in the second half, Zverev managed to save a set point and confirm the victory.
“It’s not just Zverev. The team from Germany is very strong, with highly ranked players. I’m very proud of our team. They fought from the beginning, created opportunities, showed determination, delivery, and a very big commitment”, stated the Brazilian captain Jaime Oncins at the end of the duel.
GERMANY 3 x 1 BRAZIL
Friday (4)
Alexander Zverev-ALE 2 x 0 Thiago Wild-BRA (6/4 and 6/2)
Thiago Monteiro-BRA 2 x 1 Jan-Lennard Struff-ALE (6/3, 1/6, 6/3)
Saturday (5)
Tim Puetz/Kevin Krawietz-ALE 2 x 1 Bruno Soares/Felipe Meligeni-BRA (6/4, 6/7 and 4/6)
Alexander Zverev-ALE 2 x 0 Thiago Monteiro-BRA (6/1 and 7/5)
ATP ranking of the squad:
Brazil
Thiago Monteiro: 114th (single)
Thiago Wild: 216th (single)
Bruno Soares: 19th (doubles)
Felipe Meligeni: 92nd (doubles)
Germany
Alexander Zverev: 3rd (single)
Jan-Lennard Struff: 60th (single)
Tim Puetz: 12th (doubles)
Kevin Krawietz: 14th (doubles)
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