Daviscup in Innsbruck – Austria’s tennis status: mixed
Would have?? I get?? I?? – you know it more from other sports. In that case, however, it also applies to Austria’s tennis, which ended the season in the group stage of the (home) Davis Cup in Innsbruck. Despite some good performances, even in the absence of Dominic Thiem, it is not enough for promotion to the quarter-finals, at the end it says: “Yes anyway nice, but …”, a “Yes anyway nice, but” that somehow runs through the entire season pulls.
If Gerald Melzer had won his opening game against Serbia, “the whole weekend looks different,” said Austria’s Davis Cup captain Stefan Koubek. And if the Austrians had followed up after Jurij Rodionov’s 6: 1, 7: 5 victory over the German Dominik Koepfer on Sunday, “it would have been a good deal”. But then the 0: 3 against the Serbs and the victory of Rodionov followed by further defeats by Dennis Novak against the experienced Jan-Lennard Struff (5: 7, 4: 6) and the doubles Oliver Marach / Philipp Oswald against Kevin Krawietz / Tim Pütz (3 : 6, 4: 6) – and the exit was sealed. The Germans are group winners in Pool F and will play against Great Britain on Tuesday (4 p.m.) in Innsbruck to reach the semi-finals in Madrid. Only the six group winners in Innsbruck, Turin and Madrid and the two group runners-up with the highest points made it into the quarter-finals.
Nevertheless, he was “proud” of his team, said Koubek. “You worked really well during the week, prepared yourself well and tried everything. It’s a shame if you then go away with 1: 5 (defeats, note), but at the end of the day there was certainly a little more in there. I can’t do anyone make a reproach, “said the ÖTV captain, whose contract expires at the end of the year and who once again regretted the lack of spectators in contrast to the other locations in Turin and Madrid. “I have to complain more often. I’m really, really disappointed because no fans helped.”
Thiem comeback in December
Irrespective of the team result, Rodionov could only be satisfied. The 22-year-old from Lower Austria defeated the higher-rated Köpfer after 85 minutes and then said, but of course before the team defeat was certain: “It’s a great feeling, I’m close to tears.” For Rodionov it was the first victory for Austria in his fourth Davis Cup individual. Against Koepfer it was even his third victory in the third duel for Rodionov, including beating the German year in three sets in the first round of Stuttgart on grass.
All in all, however, it was a “Yes, well, but” season for Rodionov as well. After he was apparently only just about to break through two years ago as a huge talent, he is now number 141 in the world rankings, still not where he actually wanted to be at this point in time. The same gold-plated for Dennis Novak, world number 118. In the front alone on a wide corridor, Dominic Thiem is still from a red-white-red point of view, but this season he too tumbled out of the top ten for the first time in a long time and is currently 15th. In addition to the mixed sporting achievements, Thiem was also injured on the wrist for a long time, he will make his comeback at the invitation tournament in Abu Dhabi in mid-December and wants to start again at the Australian Open.
The coming season is not going to be any easier, but not only Thiem but also Rafael Nadal, for example, is back, and Novak Djokovic is still in top form and the “young wild ones” are getting better and better. Of course, nothing is set in stone. But.(Arts)