HAMBURG, January 12, 2015

The German Tennis Federation (DTB) has found a new Davis Cup Captain. Michael Kohlmann, former professional with a singles career high of ATP No. 98 and doubles career high of ATP No. 27, will lead the German team into their first round Davis Cup tie against France from March 6 to 8.

The 41-year-old from Hagen worked before as assistant under his predecessor Carsten Arriens, who parted ways with the German Tennis Federation by mutual agreements ten days ago. “Michael Kohlmann is a great team player, well informed and is very popular with the players,” Dirk Hordorff, vice-president of the DTB, explained his choice on Thursday. The contract duration is one year and Kohlmann does not want to waste time. “I want to form the best possible team,” the new assigned captain told and hopes to bring back Germany’s top-ranked player Philipp Kohlschreiber to the squad. “Now it’s my task to have conversations with the players as soon as possible,” Kohlmann added.

Michael Kohlmann achieved his best results as an active Player  in the doubles (here with Florian Mayer at the ATP 250 in Halle 2012)

Niki Pilic, former Captain of the German squad and three-time winner of the Davis Cup with Germany in 1988, 1989 and 1993, will be part of the new team in an advisor role. “Niki is an enrichment for every team in the world,” Hordorff said. “He had a big influence on my game. I owe him a lot,” Michael Stich, who lifted the trophy under Pilic in 1993, told the SID. “Niki proved a couple of times that he is one of the most successful coaches in Davis Cup history,” Stich added concerning the fact that Pilic also gained the most important team title in tennis with Croatia and Serbia.

Michael Stich is the tournament director of the ATP Event in Hamburg

Kohlmann’s new assistant will be Dirk Dier, who is also part of the German Fed Cup team under Captain Barbara Rittner. Former high jumper and European Gold medallist in 1983, Carlo Thränhardt, will be the fitness coach and Klaus Eberhardt will work as the team’s manager. “We built a solid team with a good mixture. I think that we are well prepared for the future,” Hordorff stated but also admitted that his actual favoured candidate, Boris Becker refused to take the job opportunity earlier this week.

Carlo Thränhardt is an often seen guest at tennis tournaments – here at the ATP Challenger in Heilbronn 2014