VIENNA/STARNBERG, September 19, 2026

Austria are heading back to the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna for a second consecutive year. The KURIER Austria Davis Cup Team produced another memorable home performance at the Wiener Athletiksport Club (WAC), defeating last year’s semi-finalists Belgium 3-1 in the second qualifying round and securing their place among the world’s top eight nations.

After Jurij Rodionov had won Friday’s opening singles rubber, Lucas Miedler and Davis Cup debutant Neil Oberleitner restored Austria’s lead on Saturday with a hard-fought 7-6(5), 7-5 victory over Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. Rodionov then completed the job in the deciding singles match, defeating Belgium’s top player Zizou Bergs 7-6(6), 6-3.

The victory sends Austria to Bologna for the sixth time in the country’s Davis Cup history, following appearances in 1989, 1990, 1995, 2012 and 2025. In 1990, Austria reached the semi-finals. Last year, the team led by ÖTV Sports Director and Davis Cup captain Jürgen Melzer faced defending champions Italy in the quarter-finals and lost 0-2 to the hosts.

Austria will discover their opponent for this year’s Final 8 at the draw in Bologna on Tuesday at 12 noon CEST.

Miedler and Oberleitner put Austria on course

Around 3,500 fans attended Friday’s opening day at the WAC, while Saturday’s 4,000-capacity temporary stadium on the football pitch was almost sold out.

Inspired by the electric atmosphere, Miedler and debutant Oberleitner produced a composed performance against Belgium’s experienced doubles pairing.

After neither team managed a break in the opening set, the Austrians found themselves 0-2 and 2-4 down in the tie-break before turning the momentum around to take the set 7-6(5).

The second set remained closely contested until 5-5, when Miedler and Oberleitner converted their fourth break point of the game. They then served out the match to put Austria 2-1 ahead.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Oberleitner said at the press conference. “I’m very happy that I was able to perform like this today. A big reason for that was also the fans who supported us. I’m very happy that this is how our partnership has started and I’m looking forward to everything that comes next.”

Miedler was equally impressed with his new partner on the ATP Tour.

“An incredible debut from Neil. It’s not a given that you can go out there and play like that in your first Davis Cup match,” Miedler said.

He also praised the home crowd: “It was incredible again. It was really full, with a great atmosphere from the beginning to the end. The first set was very tight and could have gone either way. But I think we played really solidly and very well in the important moments today. Neil also returned incredibly well when it mattered. I’m obviously very happy that we started like this.”

Rodionov delivers again to send Austria to Bologna

With Austria leading 2-1 and the home crowd creating an electric atmosphere, Rodionov once again appeared to thrive in his Davis Cup environment.

The 27-year-old faced a stern test against Bergs. He saved four break points in the opening game, immediately dropped his serve at 2-4 and then missed two set points at 6-5 and 15-40.

The first set was eventually decided in a tense tie-break. Rodionov saved a set point at 5-6 before converting his third opportunity to take the opener and send the WAC crowd into another frenzy.

He carried that momentum into the second set, breaking for 1-0. Although Bergs immediately levelled, Rodionov then produced a dominant stretch of tennis to move 5-1 ahead. Bergs briefly threatened a comeback, but Rodionov responded with another break to love to close out the 7-6(6), 6-3 victory.

The Austrian then celebrated by dropping onto the clay as the party in Vienna reached its peak.

“I just want to survive the night today,” Rodionov joked when asked by ORF about his plans for the evening.

He was also quick to acknowledge the quality of his opponent.

“Zizou is a great player. I needed my best tennis and all the support from the fans.”

With the decisive point secured, Austria had achieved their major objective.

“I feel incredible, of course. I’m very proud of myself and the team that we made it to the last eight in Bologna. I think that’s a great achievement. It was always the big goal to qualify, and I’m happy that we managed to do it,” Rodionov said.

Asked about the nickname “Mr Davis Cup”, however, he was quick to deflect the praise towards his captain.

“I think that’s still Jürgen. But if I continue like this, maybe I can become the Prince.”

Melzer himself was full of praise for his players.

“It was a pleasure to sit on the bench today. Already in the doubles, the way debutant Neil Oberleitner handled it – hats off to him. He played incredibly well from the very first point. And then we have a ‘Mr Davis Cup’ in Jurij Rodionov, who goes out there and plays a match like that,” Melzer said.

“For me, we deserved to win and played really well. That’s what makes the difference, and that’s why we’re going to Bologna.”

Let the Final 8 celebrations begin 🎉#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/OY7P8Fjuyq

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 19, 2026

Austrian Tennis Federation (ÖTV) President Richard Grasl was equally delighted with the achievement.

“The victory in Hungary a year ago was already sensational, but back then we had 50 fans in Hungary. Today, we qualified in front of almost 4,000 fans. Austrian tennis is more alive than ever,” Grasl said.

ÖTV Managing Director for Business Thomas Schweda also celebrated the success.

“This is a sensational achievement for the KURIER Austria Davis Cup Team and our captain Jürgen Melzer. We are proud that our men have qualified for Bologna for the second consecutive year,” Schweda said.

“It also makes it easier to enter sponsorship negotiations at the end of the year when you are among the eight best teams in the world.”