Davis Cup: Jürgen Melzer new captain in Austria
ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer takes over the position of captain of the Generali Austria Davis Cup team from Stefan Koubek, who has headed the team since 2015. Stefan Koubek stays with the team when it reaches the final tournament
Received as co-coach in 2022.
by PM
last edit:
Dec 09, 2021, 02:57 pm
On December 5th, the Generali Austria Davis Cup Team South Korea was drawn as opponents for the qualification for the final tournament 2022. The game will be played on March 4th and 5th in South Korea. The national tennis team will start with a new captain
his: ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer takes over from Stefan Koubek. “Stefan Koubek did an excellent job as the Davis Cup captain. For this he deserves a huge thank you. The appointment of Jürgen Melzer as captain is, however, the logical consequence of his function as responsible for all sporting matters of ÖTV since the beginning of 2021 ”, says ÖTV Vice President Georg Blumauer. “ÖTV is in the fortunate position of driving the development of tennis with some of the best players the country has had. In this sense, I am particularly pleased that Stefan Koubek wants to stay with our Davis Cup team as co-coach if we can qualify for the 2022 final again. "
Jürgen Melzer is the record man in Austria with 38 drafts and 78 missions. Probably a record for the ages. “It's just his competition,” says ÖTV President Magnus Brunner, “there is no one else in this country who can
embodies and lives the Davis Cup so much. So we hope that he will pass this spirit on to the team. ”Of course, Stefan Koubek did an excellent job, for which Brunner expressly thanks. “Let us remember, for example, the great success in Moscow that nobody would have thought was possible. Our thanks go to Stefan Koubek, who has always carried out his work as captain with full commitment and passion. "
Successful Koubek era
Stefan Koubek took over the team from Clemens Trimmel in 2015. The bottom line is that it remains an extremely successful era, the highlights were the victories in Russia (without Dominic Thiem), against Australia in Graz (with Dominic Thiem) and
finally in Premstätten against Uruguay (without Dominic Thiem), where the qualification for the final tournament was made for the first time. Stefan Koubek had thus "fulfilled a dream".
"Although I knew it would end, it is a shame for me, especially after such a Davis Cup without an audience in Innsbruck," says the outgoing captain. “But I'm happy, after a bit of a gap, at the final tournament
To be able to give full throttle again as co-coach of the team in 2022. "
For Jürgen Melzer, the Davis Cup has always been an affair of the heart. “There is nothing greater than representing your country. Now that I can no longer do that as a player, it's an absolute honor to lead the team as captain. I am
sure that my enthusiasm for this competition will create a positive atmosphere. I am very pleased that Stefan Koubek would like to stay with us. With his know-how, we will be able to achieve a great deal together. "