“It’s extremely bitter that he’s out because he tested positive at the last possible time before leaving,” said Melzer about the Vorarlberger’s departure. “The team will miss him.” With that, Dennis Novak, Jurij Rodionov, Lucas Miedler and Alexander Erler set off on their journey to Seoul. Since no short-term replacement for Oswald could be found due to the entry regulations, Melzer put himself on the list of players in case of an extreme emergency. Normally, however, the Kitzbühel winners Miedler/Erler are scheduled for the double.
Melzer will not fly to Seoul until Friday because of the funeral of his longtime manager Ronald Leitgeb. In South Korea, after a coronavirus test, the team has to go to a quarantine hotel until the hoped-for negative result. Even after that, there is a severe “bubble”. “We are only allowed to move between the hotel and the facility,” said Melzer. The only fresh air area available is an outdoor training court. “So it’s all the more important for the first few days to find your way in easily, to get to know the place and to fight jet lag.”
Captain eagerly awaits the start
Melzer, Austria’s record player in the Davis Cup, acts as captain for the first time. “I love this competition. I’m looking forward to preparing the guys, to pushing them on the competition weekend, to letting the sparks fly off the bench and stepping on the gas, to being able to pass on my experience from the competition one-to-one and from the bench to our players to really be able to have an effect,” he explained in an ÖTV broadcast.
The game will be played on a fast hard court in Seoul, and the winner qualifies for the final tournament, which this time will initially consist of group matches at four locations. The declared goal of the Austrians is to take part again. Melzer sees the chances at 50:50. “I expect a very, very tight box,” he said. The double could be crucial. The form of the up-and-coming number one of the hosts, Kwon Soon Woo (ATP No. 60), does not worry Melzer. “We’re certainly not the favorites to play against him, but he’s beatable and he’s under a lot of pressure. He leads his team and probably has to win both individual matches.”
Two singles will be played on Friday, doubles and two more singles on Saturday – in “best of three” mode. Melzer sees the form of Novak and Rodionov, who are probably fixed for the individual under normal circumstances, as good, both players would “burn” for the stakes. A win in Seoul would be “extremely important” for Melzer. “That’s a huge event in September that we can qualify for. Being one of the top 16 nations in the world again would be extremely important for Austria’s tennis sport.”
