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“South Africa have the same goal as us, to play in the World Group next year,” Kuehnen said after the draw for the three-day tie starting Friday.
“They will be highly motivated and they have come here to put up a challenge. We have home ground advantage, and we might be the favourites, but they have an experienced team and they have nothing to lose.”
The South Africans last defeated Germany in a Davis Cup tie in Berlin in 1962, and the hosts have come up trumps the last four times the nations have met in the men's team competition.
The Germans are better suited to the slow clay surface, have played in the World Group for the last five years in succession, and will have the added advantage of playing at home.
Both of Germany's singles players, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer, are ranked among the top 45 in the world, while neither of South Africa's singles specialists, Izak van der Merwe and Rik de Voest, are rated among the top 150 by the ATP.
But Van der Merwe in particular has shown superb recent form, stretching Argentinian David Nalbandian to five sets in a cracking first round match at the US Open two weeks ago. And if the visitors can raise their game, a surprise is on the cards.
“We've had some really good practice sessions this week, and we're looking forward to this tie,” said Van der Merwe. “We just want to get on with it now.” South Africa's doubles players, however, Wesley Moodie and Jeff Coetzee, who are both ranked among the top 100 in the world, hold the key for the tourists.
If Coetzee can overcome a niggling hamstring injury, they will be favoured to pick up a point against the German pairing of Christopher Kas and Andreas Beck in Saturday's doubles rubber.
The South Africans, if nothing else, are far more experienced in Davis Cup competition, and have a tremendous determination that has shone through in their practice sessions throughout the week.
“We have a well balanced team with some really good doubles players,” said South Africa's non-playing captain, John-Laffnie de Jager. “This weekend is going to be a challenge, but we are ready for it.” De Voest faces Kohlschreiber in Friday's opening match, and Van der Merwe takes on Mayer, who returns to Davis Cup action after a two-year absence due to injury, in the second singles rubber. The reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
If South Africa win, they will qualify for the prestigious World Group for the first time in 12 years.
The draw for the Davis Cup Tie between South Africa and Germany:
Friday 17 September 2010
11:00
2 Rik De Voest (RSA) v 1 Philip Kohlschreiber (GER)
Followed by
1 Izak van der Merwe (RSA) vs 2 Florian Mayer (GER)
Saturday 18 September 2010
15:00
Jeff Coetzee//Wesley Moodie (RSA) v Andreas Beck/Christopher Kas (GER)
Sunday 19 September 2010
11:00
1 Izak van der Merwe (RSA) v 1 Philip Kohlschreiber (GER)
Followed by:
2 Rik De Voest (RSA) v 2 Florian Mayer (GER)
Both teams may change the players of the nominated team until one (1) hour before the scheduled start of the doubles, until one (1) hour before the scheduled start of the third singles match (not previously having played singles) and until 10 minutes after the completion of the third singles match for the fourth singles match (not previously having played singles)
