The doubles dream final at the 32nd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN is perfect: Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz, last year's final losers and this year's number one seeds, will challenge the defending champions Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori on Sunday (from 12.30 pm). In the semi-finals, Krawietz/Pütz defeated the qualifiers Francisco Cabral (Portugal) and Lucas Miedler (Austria), who had already reached the semi-finals on grass in Stuttgart, 7:6 and 6:4 in a close match.
In the first set, all the servers got their service through, with Lucas Miedler having the first major problems when the favourites from Germany took a 6:5 lead. ‘KraPü’ were unable to capitalise on three set points and the match went into a tie-break. In which it became highly dramatic. Cabral/Miedler dominated the deciding game and had a set point at 6:5. And it was a tough one: Cabral ‘only’ had to get a smash into the court, but his shot landed just out of bounds. It was unlucky for Krawietz/Pütz, who won the set with two more points in a row and their fourth set point. At 58 minutes, the first set alone lasted ten minutes longer than the entire semi-final match between Bolelli/Vavassori (6:2, 6:2 against Auger-Aliassime/Shapovalov).
In the second set, Kevin Krawietz initially had problems with his service. He and his partner had to fend off four break points to make it 2:2. Francisco Cabral was apparently so shocked by this that he promptly gave up his serve with a double fault. It was to be the preliminary decision. At 5:4, it was the server Pütz who left nothing to chance and made it 6:4 with a passing ball between his opponents on the first match point.
‘It was a great atmosphere on Centre Court,’ said a delighted Kevin Krawietz. ‘We'll also need this support on Sunday in the final against the Italians.’
This year, the top German doubles team is still waiting for a tournament win - after losing in the finals in Munich and Adelaide. In 2024, ‘KraPü’ won the ATP Finals (their greatest joint success to date) and in Hamburg. Krawietz is also a two-time winner of a Grand Slam tournament (2019 and 2020 together with Andreas Mies at Roland Garros).
This is Krawietz's third final in Halle. In 2024, the 33-year-old lost to Bolelli/Vavassori together with Pütz, and in 2021 he triumphed together with Romanian Horia Tecau. Pütz is also in the final of the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN for the third time. The 37-year-old has yet to win the big trophy. In 2022, he and New Zealander Michael Venus lost 12:14 to Granollers/Zeballos in the decisive match tie-break - and in 2024 together with Krawietz.
