Germany vs Belgium – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Davis Cup Finals
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THE FACTS
When is Germany vs Belgium on and what time does it start? Germany vs Belgium will take place on Friday 16th September, 2022 – not before 13:00 (UK)
Where is Germany vs Belgium taking place? Germany vs Belgium will take place at Am Rothenbaum in Hamburg, Germany
What surface is Germany vs Belgium being played on? Germany vs Belgium will take place on an indoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Germany vs Belgium? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Germany vs Belgium
What channel is Germany vs Belgium on in the UK? TBC
Where can I stream Germany vs Belgium in the UK? TBC
THE LOWDOWN
Germany made full use of a home crowd and a clay court that suited their second option Jan-Lennard Struff nicely to see off France 2-1 on Tuesday. With Alexander Zverev having to pull out last minute, Oscar Otte had little time to recalibrate as the new first option for his nation but the 29-year-old has reached the semi-finals of all three tournaments he has played on home soil to suggest he could come good after losing his opener against Adrian Mannarino. Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz are one of the best, most experienced doubles duos in the tournament and they played well to take the decider from the vastly experienced Nicolas Mahut alongside Arthur Rinderknech.
Belgium’s opening tie with Australia looked promising at first as Zizou Bergs fought back well to level his match 1-1 with Jason Kubler but after losing their opener the wind seemed to leave their sails. David Goffin, so often a Belgian hero at international level as a two-time runner-up in 2015 and 2017, was well off the pace against Alex de Minaur before their doubles duo of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen were exposed against better opposition.
THE PREDICTION
Former world number seven David Goffin has vast amounts of Davis Cup experience behind him but the Belgian has endured several seasons of concerning troughs in form, with only a few peaks to speak of. The 31-year-old reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in July with some searing tennis but he has lost each of his last four matches after his poor performance against Alex de Minaur. With home fans behind him, Oscar Otte fairs a strong chance at winning their first option battle but the 29-year-old is not as comfortable as Goffin – when on song – should be to leave that particular match a proper head-scratcher. Krawietz and Puetz should have more than enough to deal with the Belgian’s doubles team but there is always the potential for air-dropping Goffin into a decider.
That leaves the tone of this match to be set by the opening clash between, most likely, Zizou Bergs and Jan-Lennard Struff. 23-year-old Bergs has grabbed some solid results on clay at Challenger level this season but 32-year-old Struff should have the better of the key moments on his favoured surface to get Hamburg pumped. Back Germany to win outright, with 2-1 or 3-0 resting almost entirely on Goffin’s shoulders.
