Rainer Schuettler's surprise run to the Australian Open final made front page news in Germany but, says ex-Wimbledon champion Michael Stich, only Davis Cup success can galvanise the country's tennis interest again.
Schuettler fell at the final hurdle in Melbourne to a rampant Andre Agassi but Stich believes Davis Cup glory will create more of a tennis revival in Germany than any individual success at a Grand Slam event.
"Boris (Becker) won Wimbledon in 1985 and it created a boom but when (we) won (our) first Davis Cup in 1988, I think that elevated tennis much, much more than his Wimbledon victory did," Stich told Reuters in an interview.
This weekend the German squad, headed by Schuettler but missing the injured Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer, face a tough task against Argentina in a World group first round tie in Buenos Aires.
Stich said: "I think Davis Cup is the national team, you play for your country and people just identify themselves much more with the national team."
Having tasted three Davis Cup victories in six years, Germany have failed to get their hands on the men's premier team competition trophy since 1993.
While Stich featured in the 1993 final victory over Australia, his involvement in the event since has brought him mixed fortunes.
TURNED SOUR
The 1991 Wimbledon champion's joy at being appointed German captain in October 2001 turned sour less than a year later when he clashed with the country's top players.
Stich's move to recall the retired Becker for a qualifying round tie against Venezuela last September almost caused a revolt in the team after Haas and Schuettler threatened to pull out of the squad.
Stich stepped down as captain following the episode, blaming the players and the German Tennis Federation for their lack of support.
Unsurprisingly, he is critical of the state of German tennis, especially as the country has yet to produce a men's Grand Slam champion since Becker's victory at the 1996 Australian Open.
"We have good players but they still have to prove that they are good enough, that they're successful," said the 34-year-old.
"The team haven't proven yet that they're a good team and that they can win the Davis Cup. This team (have) never made it further than the second round, so that's not really successful.
"It's up to them to be successful and not to the coach or to the federation. They have to play, they have to win."
FIRM FAVOURITES
Even though Schuettler has galloped up the rankings to world number 16 thanks to his exploits in Australia, the German team -- which also includes Lars Burgsmuller, Michael Kohlmann and David Prinosil -- will not have an easy time against the talented Argentines.
Playing on the slow South American clay courts and with the added advantage of home support, the Argentine squad of Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian, Guillermo Canas, Gaston Gaudio and Lucas Arnold go into the tie as firm favourites.
"I just know how big it is to win the Davis Cup and be successful in the Davis Cup. It's a great thing and it's a great thing to achieve in your tennis career," said Stich.
"I'm disappointed for the players because....they haven't really proven that to themselves and to the public (yet), so they still need to do that."
