Davis Cup: Austria must continue to commute

If the Davis Cup format, which was completely turned inside out just a few years ago, then it’s still the same. Because after the deal with the investment group Kosmos burst, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) could make major changes again.

Whatever happens, Austria’s place among the major tennis nations is not permanent. Since the first promotion to the world group in 1988, there have only been a few outliers, most notably the semi-finals in 1990. Austria was last among the top eight nations in 2012.

“Everything just has to fit”

“Commuting nation” is therefore not a new expression for the former world-class player and current Davis Cup captain Jürgen Melzer. “Of course we know that. The facts speak for it. We beat Russia back then, were in the quarter-finals, and since then we haven’t managed to win in the world group for a long time.” However, you can’t really compare it. Earlier there were even fewer nations in the World Group.

“Everything has to be just right for us to qualify for a final tournament, and we won’t be the only nation to lose away against a strong opponent like Croatia,” summarized Melzer. “At the moment we are a commuter nation and we have to do everything we can in September to remain one.” Because if you suffer a defeat in September, then Austria will slip into second place.

Thiem stands for the Davis Cup

For Thiem, the Davis Cup has gained in importance again, not least after the ATP Cup, which can more or less be described as a flop, which was discontinued after three years. “The Davis Cup has a lot of tradition and is a big competition. After the ATP Cup no longer exists, it is once again the only major national competition for us men. He deserves a perfect mode,” said Thiem.

But he was more in favor of a group mode. He recently read a book about how the Football Champions League came about. A team of experts from other sports invented the Champions League. “They made the Champions League what it is today. Maybe something like that should be done in tennis too. The Davis Cup also deserves to be a great competition.”

He has an ambivalent approach to the home-away mode. “Of course, home and away games are also sensational, especially when you play at home and seldom have that feeling anyway.”

Melzer sees it a little differently: “The smartest thing is for all nations to talk about it in one room. Then maybe you can get the competition back where it belongs, namely one of the hottest competitions in sport.” Austria’s record player in the Davis Cup prefers the home-away model. “Definitely – for me the Davis Cup is only possible with a home and away game.”