BERLIN, September 6, 2016

Germany will host the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie against Poland from 16 to 18 September at the Steffi Graf Stadion in Berlin on outdoor clay.

Philipp Kohlschreiber, Florian Mayer, Jan-Lennard Struff and Daniel Brands will represent the German team, which will return to the capital city for the first time in 15 years. The last Davis Cup tie in Berlin took place inside the Deutschlandhalle, when Germany with Boris Becker, Michael Stich, Eric Jelen and captain Niki Pilic defeated Argentina 5-0.

“I am really looking forward to compete with our team at this traditonal venue in Berlin,” Germany’s Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann said. The competition against Poland will be the 29th tie held at the venue of the LTTC Rot-Weiß Berlin. “To play against Poland will be huge challenger and I am sure that our players will be highly motivated.”

For the host nation it was good news that world number 26 Philipp Kohlschreiber is ready to compete again. The 32-year-old was forced to retire in his opening match at the US Open against Nicolas Mahut last week with a foot injury. Alexander Zverev and Dustin Brown announced that they are not be available for a nomination.

Poland will be without the services of Jerzy Janowicz for their short trip across the border. The Polish team will look to Kamil Majchrzak and Hubert Hurkacz in singles, while Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski will probably build the doubles team.

Kubot believes that Poland can avoid a relegation back to Zone Group I, but acknoledges that the team will face a strong opponent.

“Away in Germany, on clay – it’s going to be an interesting tie, after around six weeks on hard court playing in America,” the 34-year-old said and is looking forward to the contest. “Everything is possible.”

Germany faced Poland three times before. The Germans emerged victorious from two ties. However, the Polish squad got the better in their last meeting. In 1977, they won the quarterfinals tie in Warsaw.