ATP Tour

Second choice? Krawietz happy to answer Venus Williams' call

Sometimes you have to accept being the second choice. For Kevin Krawietz, who is partnering Venus Williams in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, that may just be the case.

Krawietz and his men's doubles partner Tim Puetz booked their place in the third round on Friday before heading upstairs at the All England Club for their post-match media duties. With only a short turnaround before Krawietz and Williams — the former WTA World No. 1 and 23-time major champion across singles, doubles and mixed — begin their mixed doubles campaign, the German still found time to share the amusing story of how their partnership came together.

“Leave nothing out, please,” Puetz says, wearing a smug look across his face before Krawietz has a chance to respond.

Krawietz then explains to ATPTour.com: “I have to be honest. Her husband was asking Puetzy first, but he didn't want to play mixed here. We discussed it at dinner, actually. He [Puetz] said, ‘Look who asked me. Look who asked me’. Then I said, ‘Yeah, you have to do it’. But he said, ‘No, I don’t want to play because it might be too many matches’.

“Then I got a message the next day.”

Krawietz jokes there may now be a little "tension" after discovering he was second in line behind Puetz. Humour aside, though, the 34-year-old is excited for the opportunity and says he has been in regular contact with Williams and her husband, Andrea Preti, ahead of their debut. Krawietz and Williams open against Lloyd Glasspool and Tereza Mihalikova on Friday afternoon on Court 14.

Williams is joined at this year's Championships by her sister and fellow former WTA World No. 1 Serena Williams, with the pair competing in the women's doubles event. Krawietz also reflected on the lasting impact the sisters continue to have on the sport.

“I think it's a great experience,” Krawietz said when asked about playing with the 46-year-old Williams. “At this age, it’s great that she's still playing at this level and wants to play and enjoy the sport. It’s great to have her and Serena back as it's showing they love the sport.”

While Krawietz insists he is not a "mixed expert" like Venus — who has won two major mixed doubles titles — he can still draw confidence from reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals alongside Kveta Peschke in 2021 and the Roland Garros semi-finals with Nicole Melichar-Martinez a year later.

Krawietz and Puetz have won seven tour-level doubles titles together, including the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals. The seventh seeds will next face Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler in the third round of the men's doubles at Wimbledon.