STARNBERG/MADRID, December 5, 2021
Russia eased into its first Davis Cup final since 2007 following a 2-1 victory over Germany at the Madrid Arena on Saturday. Andrey Rublev dismantled Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-0 in the first singles rubber.
The World No. 5 won 84 per cent of his first-serve points and fired nine aces to succeed after 49 minutes.
“In other matches I was feeling I’m winning quite easy, I don’t need to do much effort, and in the end I was completely relaxed,” Rublev said. “I was giving up to the other guy. Then I was losing or winning in three sets. The difference today was since the beginning, I was pumped, I was try more on winning, to play as better as I can, to not give any hope, any chance. In the end I was able to win quite easy.”
World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev then sealed victory for his team, overcoming Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-4 in 66 minutes. The 25-year-old committed just six unforced errors and saved the one break point he faced.
Madrid = @DaniilMedwed‘s stomping ground 👟😮#DavisCupFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/phxBErMXia
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) December 4, 2021
“I’m really happy for the team to be in the final,” Medvedev said. “Amazing two weeks so far for us. Beating Spain was the highlight, I think beating Spain in Madrid, for all of us in the locker room we are so happy to beat the home favourites. It started in 2019 but I’m not going to be tired to say it. People still don’t understand how to make me lose, they should support me, so it’s ok guys, continue, and I’m going to just win.”
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz remained unbeaten in this year’s Davis Cup competition, winning the dead doubles rubber 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Karen Khachanov and Aslan Karatsev.
Russia will play Croatia in the final on Sunday.
