Austria’s great chance of the top 16 in the world

It’s round 35 years that Austria’s tennis boom probably experienced its biggest climax. At the time, the musketers of the felt ball were jointly responsible Thomas Muster, Horst Skoff and Alexander Antonitsch who provided full halls and stadiums with their heroic deeds in the Davis Cup.

The big acts on the ATP tour were decisive. Now it is the other way around: Now the Austrians can at least achieve success through the Davis Cup that go beyond well -behaved challenge success. Because the view of the ATP world rankings shows why the boom after Dominic Thiem’s ​​creeping farewell to the world class is over: Sebastian OfneR is 120 as the best ÖTV player, but is injured.

Jurij Rodionov (Rang 155), Lukas Neumayer (219) Und Filip Misolic (314) Have the chance to play Austria under the 16 best nations in the world on Friday and Saturday. The opponent Finland should be beaten, especially since Emil Ruusovori, Finland’s best in recent years, did not start the trip to Schwechat due to injury. Double specialist Harri Heliövaara, who fixed his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last Saturday, also whistled on the country fight.

If Austria wins, a Home game against Canada Wait – with the top stars Felix Auger-Aliassime und Denis Shapovalov. Provided that the Canadians beat Hungary. Then there could be a tennis festival again, which at least reminds of the heyday when the Vienna Prater (semi-finals in 1990 against the United States) and in sub-premiums (1994 against Germany) were almost already held historical duels.

In the current situation it says International mood in the multiverse To generate what is not so easy because Austria no longer has a draft horse without Thiem and because because of Finland’s Otto Virtanen, less likes to attract the masses. At least the hard fan core around whereabouts Stefan Gnadenberger will create the mood.

Favorite Otto

But at least Virtan, number 97 in the world, today in the first game (3 p.m., Live ORF Sport+) is not the outsider. “Otto will be the favorite,” says his opponent, the Salzburg Neumayer. “But have put a good training week and I hope that I will open the Davis Cup positively.”

Afterwards, from the Austrian point of view, nothing should go wrong. Rodionov meets the only 17-year-old Oskari Paldaniuswhich you have to search for a long time in the ATP ranking and then find it only in place 1,599.

In doubles are Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler, who found new partners in the previous year, but are looking for the shape again. In Vienna they won the tournament together in October. “The last season is still very fresh, so I’m not worried about that,” said captain Jürgen Melzer. In addition, the duo in the Davis Cup has only lost one of six games.