Duel with Turkey

Davis Cup aces serve in Bad Waltersdorf

Sebastian Ofner and Co. play in Bad Waltersdorf in September

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The Davis Cup duel with Turkey (September 13/14) will take place in Bad Waltersdorf! Sebastian Ofner, Dominic Thiem and Co. go into the match as favorites. The Challenger tournament continues immediately afterwards, turning Styria into a tennis stronghold.

Bad Waltersdorf in eastern Styria will become an Austrian tennis stronghold in September. On the 13th/14th, the Davis Cup team under captain Jürgen Melzer will host the World Group duel with Turkey, followed by the Challenger Tournament from the 15th to the 22nd, which this year will be known as the "Bad Waltersdorf Trophy".

Melzer believes in top event
The spa town with its clay courts in the Sportaktivpark won the internal duel to host the international tournament against Tulln in Lower Austria.

Prominent line-up at the press conference for the Styrian tennis highlight

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

"I was at the Challenger tournament here last year and was able to see for myself how beautiful it is. We have everything we need to stage a top Davis Cup event on this superb facility," said Melzer.

ÖTV comes as the favorite
The ÖTV team is the clear favorite against Turkey: The opponent's top-ranked player, Ergi Kirkin, is currently only ranked 302nd in the ATP world rankings. No fewer than six Austrians are ranked higher, with Sebastian Ofner (43rd) as the best Austrian athlete.

Melzer has big plans for his team: "We have a big goal: we want to get to the final tournament. That's why all the players have agreed to take part again. So I'm spoiled for choice as to who I put in the team. But it's great to see that all the players are keen to take the next step."

We have a big goal: we want to get to the final tournament. That's why all the players have agreed to take part again.

Jürgen Melzer, Davis-Cup-Kapitän

Styria has been good ground for the Davis Cup team recently. The last three matches were won: 2010 in Bad Gleichenberg (3:2 against Slovakia), 2018 in Graz (3:1 against Australia) and 2020 in Unterpremstätten (3:1 against Uruguay).

"Bad Waltersdorf Trophy" attracts fans
The "Bad Waltersdorf Trophy", which starts immediately afterwards, also has plenty to offer tennis fans. The Italian Fabio Fognini, a former top 10 player, has even been lured into the tournament. The entry deadline runs until three weeks before the start of the tournament, and the organizers are also hoping for the participation of Davis Cup players, among others.

Ticket sales for the Challenger start today (Thursday, April 18), tickets for the Davis Cup are not yet available. A total of up to 1800 fans are expected on Center Court each day.

"With the Davis Cup and the largest ATP Challenger in Austria, Styria is once again becoming a tennis stronghold," said a delighted STTV President Barbara Muhr. Tournament Director Peter Westner promises: "We will try to make these ten days a tennis spectacle."