Overview
- The draw sets Jan-Lennard Struff against Yoshihito Nishioka in Friday’s opener, followed by Yannick Hanfmann versus Shintaro Mochizuki, with Krawietz/Pütz slated for Saturday’s doubles and potential lineup changes allowed after day one.
- The winner of the Sept. 12–13 tie qualifies for the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna from Nov. 18–23, with five best-of-three matches deciding the outcome and three wins needed to advance.
- Germany’s squad is Struff, Hanfmann, doubles specialists Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz, and 17-year-old Justin Engel, who was called up for injured Daniel Altmaier and could become Germany’s second-youngest Davis Cup debutant if selected.
- Japan is without Kei Nishikori due to back problems, with play on a slow hard court at Ariake Coliseum and a German side relying on form player Struff and its accomplished doubles pair.
- First ball is 7:00 MESZ on Friday and 6:00 MESZ on Saturday, the tie airs on the subscription Tennis Channel, and Germany has managed long-haul travel and jet lag after the US Open.