By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, November 17, 2025Photo credit score: Davis Cup Fb
Austria gained a giant enhance earlier than hanging a single shot on this week’s Davis Cup Closing 8.
The unhealthy information for Austria: It faces huge problem taking part in two-time defending-champion Italy on its residence turf in Bologna in Wednesday’s Davis Cup quarterfinals.
The excellent news for Austria: World No. 2 Jannik Sinner and No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti have every withdrawn from the Davis Cup Closing 8.
These two High 10 absences infuses Austria with hope it might probably pull off a mission inconceivable.
The important thing elements to victory, says Austrian captain Jurgen Melzer, the Twelfth-ranked Austrians should consider of their trigger and bear in mind they solely must be higher than Italy for one tie.
“The nice factor for underdog nations is that you just solely must be higher on that in the future,” captain Melzer advised the media in right now’s Davis Cup press convention. “You don’t must be constantly higher than the opposite crew. Any nation can have a foul day, irrespective of how a lot or what number of playersthey have in entrance of you.
“Ultimately, you bought to arrange effectively and you bought to consider. There was previously so many upsets, even to massive nations. I imply, who would have believed the USA lose at residence to the Czech Republic [in Delray Beach in September].”
Even with out High 10 skills Sinner and Musetti, Italy nonetheless boasts a formidable lineup led by No. 22 Flavio Cobolli, No, 39 Lorenzo Sonego, former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini and a standout doubles crew of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.
Austria counters with No. 80 Filip Misolic, No. 160 Jurij Rodionov, Lukas Neumayer, Lucas Miedler and Alezander Earler.
Captain Melzer mentioned the sport plan is easy: Win one of many singles matches and attempt to pull off the upset with a doubles victory.
“Even us in Hungary, we’ve got been not the favourite. Coming right here to Italy, who is aware of?” Melzer mentioned. “You win one of many first two singles and also you’re in a dwell doubles match, something can occur. That’s what we’ve got to stay up for.
“That’s what we’ve got to consider in. As I mentioned, our crew has been performing effectively over the pastfour ties. Why not a fifth tie?”
Davis Cup Closing 8 Schedule
QUARTERFINAL 1 – France v Belgium
Tuesday November 18th – 16.00 (CET)
QUARTERFINAL 2 – Italy v Austria
Wednesday, November nineteenth – 16.00 (CET)
QUARTERFINAL 3 -Spain v Czechia
Thursday, November twentieth – 10.00 (CET)
QUARTERFINAL 4 – Argentina v Germany
Thursday, November twentieth – 17.00 (CET)
SEMIFINAL 1 (QF1 v QF2)
Friday, November twenty first – 16.00 (CET)
SEMIFINAL 2 (QF3 v QF4)
Saturday, November twenty second – 12.00 (CET)
FINAL
Sunday, November twenty third – 15.00 (CET)
