Rodionov opens Davis Cup against Turkey

Juri Rodionov will open the Davis Cup international match between Austria and Turkey in Bad Waltersdorf on Friday (from 1 p.m. in the LIVE ticker>>> and on ORF Sport+).

The 24-year-old Lower Austrian, ÖTV number 1, will face the Turkish number two, Yanki Erel (ATP 536). The world number 170, who lost to Richard Gasquet in the Chassis Challenger final on Monday, is the clear favorite in this encounter.

Then ÖTV debutant Lukas Neumayer (ATP 262) will face Cem Ilkel (ATP 474). The 22-year-old from Salzburg was in the final of the Challenger tournament in Tulln last Sunday and was given preference over Filip Misolic (ATP 225) by substitute ÖTV captain Alex Peya.

On Saturday at 11 a.m. the doubles match between Alex Erler/Lucas Miedler and Cengiz Aksu/Koray Kirci continues.

Peya: “The team welcomed me really well”

Peya stepped in for the ill Jürgen Melzer as Davis Cup captain. This is the first time the Viennese has taken on this role: “I didn’t have much time to think about it. The team welcomed me really well and made it easy for me.”

“The team is very young and fresh. It’s really fun with the guys. You have to accept the role of favorites. The ranking speaks for itself, even if the Turks have been higher up before. They are a very compact team, but we are still favorites and we also have the home advantage on our side,” said Peya in an ORF interview.

The five most legendary Thiem matches at the US Open