Germany pipped Australia to prime spot in group C of the Davis Cup finals, successful the decisive doubles rubber in Hamburg on Sunday.
Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell have been outclassed in straight units, 6-4, 6-4, by German pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.
Earlier, Thanasi Kokkinakis dragged Australia again into their last group tie, beating the hosts’ top-ranked participant Oscar Otte after Max Purcell went down in straight units to Jan-Lennard Struff within the opening rubber.
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 Photographs
Along with his crew’s qualification for the finals shoot-out in Malaga in November already assured, captain Lleyton Hewitt had rung the modifications by drafting in two new singles gamers.
De Minaur, who gained each his singles within the victories in opposition to Belgium and France, and Jason Kubler, victor on his debut in opposition to the Belgians, got a relaxation by Hewitt.
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That meant a troublesome 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 Area.
Alexander Zverev, who had been desiring to make his comeback to competitors after his stunning harm 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 together with his German teammates.
Blown away within the first set, Purcell regrouped to make a struggle 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.
