The German tennis professionals face the end of the Davis Cup against the Russian team in the semi-finals.
Dominik Koepfer (Furtwangen) lost the opening match against world number five Andrej Rublew on Saturday in Madrid with 4: 6, 0: 6, so Jan-Lennard Struff (Warstein) already has his back to the wall in the second individual.
Only a surprise win against US Open Champion Daniil Medvedev keeps the hope of the German Tennis Association (DTB) alive for the first final in 28 years.
Two-time French Open winners Kevin Krawietz (Coburg) and Tim Pütz (Frankfurt / Main), both of whom are still unbeaten in Davis Cup doubles, would play in a possible double.
Germany, which competes without Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, has won the most important team competition in men's tennis three times (1988, 1989, 1993).
In the end Rublew had played a little bit over and looked tired, but there was nothing to be seen against Koepfer.
The Black Forest rider was behind a deficit early on, because his opponent showed his tremendous power well and served him excellently.
Koepfer risked a lot and fought, but was constantly under pressure - the irresistible Rublew had a creamy day and decided the match after 49 minutes.
For the fourth time in the semifinals, Germany will face a Russian team that is officially known as the “Russian Tennis Association” as a result of the sanctions following the state doping scandal.
All previous duels in the battle for the final have been lost, including the last German semi-final in 2007. The winner of the game will face Croatia in the final on Sunday, which had eliminated Serbia on Friday for Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic.