Yannick Hanfmann would like to see a different schedule for the Davis Cup. World-class players such as Alexander Zverev would benefit from this.
Shortly before the start of the qualifying tournament, German tennis pro Yannick Hanfmann spoke out in favor of a comprehensive reform of the Davis Cup.
“I don’t think the Davis Cup should be held every year, but perhaps every two years,” the 34-year-old told the Rheinische Post ahead of the upcoming first-round match against Peru (February 6/7) in Düsseldorf: “Perhaps world-class players like Alexander Zverev would be able to plan their schedules better with this kind of format.” Such a change could make the competition “more meaningful.”
Zverev lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open at the end of January to eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) and canceled his participation in the ATP tournament in Rotterdam a few days later due to ankle problems.
Davis Cup: Engel steps in for Zverev
Due to the tight schedule, captain Michael Kohlmann had already called up promising youngster Justin Engel to the German squad to replace the world number four. According to Hanfmann, the 18-year-old has shown “that he is getting better and better” and that it is “good for him to gain more experience so that he can support the team in the coming years.”
At the beginning of the year, Kohlmann had already nominated veteran Jan-Lennard Struff and top doubles pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz alongside Hanfmann and Engel. If the hosts in the North Rhine-Westphalian metropolis live up to their role as favorites, the German Tennis Federation (DTB) team will face Denmark or Croatia.