ATP Finals: Krawietz/Pütz miss out on semi-final chance

World champions Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz have been eliminated early from the ATP Finals in Turin and will not be able to defend their title from last year.

After their second defeat in the group stage against Great Britain's Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool (6:7, 2:6), the pair no longer have a chance of reaching the semi-finals. The last group match against the already qualified Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori also has little sporting significance. Krawietz/Pütz lost their opening match against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in a match tie-break last Sunday.

Expectations were dampened anyway, as Tim Pütz was only fit to play again shortly before the start of the tournament following a calf injury. He described his start in Turin as a "real bonus". The injury and the lack of preparation made a successful title defense difficult.

The pair had won the world title the previous year - as the first German duo in the history of the prestigious tournament: a historic success for German tennis.