Stuttgart (dpa) – The Russian team will take on Croatia in the final of the Davis Cup on Sunday after Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev proved way too strong for Germany in the last four.
Rublev needed only 49 minutes to thrash Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-0 in Madrid on Saturday and Medvedev also saw off Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Germany were in the last four for the first time in 14 years but their hopes of reaching a first final since 1993 were severely hampered by the absence of star player Alexander Zverev.
A strong doubles duo in Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz won their tie but were left powerless by the failure of Koepfer and Struff in the singles but up against the world number five and three respectively they were heavy underdogs.
Croatia reached the final with a 2-1 win over Novak Djokovic’s Serbia on Friday.
«The semi-final is already a big success for us,» said Koepfer. «Hoefully we can have Zverev playing in the coming years, then we have a real chance for the final and to win the Davis Cup.»
By Kristina Puck, dpa