VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Without its best player, Germany defeated Slovakia 3-0 on Tuesday as the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals kicked off, with Yannick Hanfmann saving a match point before beating Jozef Kovalik in the second singles match.
Four groups will play across four cities this week to qualify for the Final 8 knockout stage to be held in Malaga, Spain, in November. The top two in each four-team group will advance.
Germany and Slovakia were the first teams in action on Tuesday playing in China in Group C, which also includes the United States. The U.S. plays China on Wednesday.
Weakened by the absence of Alexander Zverev, Germany sent out Maximilian Marterer in the first singles match and the 104th-ranked player won 6-4, 7-5 against Lukas Klein. Hanfmann then fought back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) against Kovalik.
U.S. Open finalists Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz completed the German win by claiming the doubles match 7-5, 6-3 against Lukas Klein and Igor Zelenay.
After finishing runner-up the past two years, Australia is again among the favorites and later took on France in Group B in the Spanish town of Valencia. Among other big names competing this week are Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and British player Jack Draper, who made it to the U.S. Open semifinals last week.
Italy beat Australia for the 2023 title.