Austria’s Davis Cup team has been preparing for the quarter-final against hosts Italy in the SuperTennis Arena in Bologna since Saturday.
Filip Misolic and Co. rave about the conditions, the court is a little slower than expected. Before the duel on Wednesday (4 p.m./live ORF 1), the team will also be keeping their fingers crossed for the ÖFB kickers.
ÖTV captain Jürgen Melzer only reveals his individual players an hour before the international match with the Azzurri.
“It’s beautiful here, we’re playing very well. We’re all in good form. We’re really having fun and training well throughout the week,” said Misolic in an APA interview on Tuesday.
After the cancellation of Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, the Styrian and only top 100 individual player in the ÖTV team is looking forward to the encounter with the two-time defending champion. “Of course we have chances and we all believe that we can win. That’s the most important thing. As a team, we have proven many times that we can come out as winners as underdogs,” said Misolic.
ÖTV team with Misolic and Rodionov in singles?
Purely in terms of the world rankings, he and Jurij Rodionov would be the two individual players in 177th place (although only twelve places ahead of Lukas Neumayer), and in terms of experience they also have an advantage over Salzburg. The Final 8 experience is something new for the entire team.
“It’s bigger, more impressive, also a bit more intimidating. The first impression of the facility was something different. This is the first time we’ve been here with this format, so we’re even more pleased to be here. And we’ll try harder to stay here longer,” said Rodionov after training with Misolic.
The fact that the course is even slower than expected doesn’t bother the Lower Austrian. “That’s not a negative thing for me, I like it slower rather than faster.”
Rodionov is very happy with his form in the last few days. “When I’m needed, I’m ready.” He emphasized the special team spirit in the team. “These are the weeks of the year that you really look forward to. We are not only colleagues, but now also good friends and support each other. We have really developed this team spirit over the last two or three years, which is why everyone always plays for the team.”
Melzer doesn’t play cards
Captain and ÖTV Davis Cup record player Jürgen Melzer is also impressed by the venue. “An impressive hall, they’ve put together a great event here. Maybe the pitch is a bit slower than expected, but that’s not a disadvantage for us and it won’t have a major impact on the outcome of the match.”
In terms of form, there were no surprises among the players; everyone “did a great job”.
Melzer doesn’t want to look at the cards, not least for tactical reasons, only Alexander Erler/Lucas Miedler are confirmed for the doubles. “There is no fixed starter for me, also because we only have to hand in an hour beforehand. There are one or two tactical considerations as to what could fit together better.”
Hoping for a highlight before the highlight
On Tuesday evening there was one fixed point for the ÖTV team: the national soccer team’s decisive World Cup qualifying match in Vienna against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“We’ll see that together and hopefully they’ll go to the World Cup and we’ll go one better tomorrow. That would be the perfect scenario,” said Melzer and added: “But I’ll also accept it if (only) we win tomorrow.”
Italy couldn’t surprise him in terms of the line-up, even if Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Sonego “played a lot together”. Whether the Italian captain Filippo Volandri can do without the veteran Matteo Berrettini, who was very successful in the Davis Cup, will only be found out on Wednesday.
