The doubles opens day two. It counts towards the race to the Final 8 in Bologna, and whoever wins it leaves his team one point from victory. On paper, the two Austrians are ranked above the two Belgians.
Sander Gillé set the scene before walking on court. “They’re great players, ranked well above us. We’re clearly the outsiders in this match. Joran and I have played Miedler several times. But we’ve only beaten him once, even if that was on clay. Let’s hope it helps,” he told DH.
He also brought up a happier precedent: two meetings with Oberleitner this year alongside the Dutchman Sem Verbeek, both on clay, both won, with Oberleitner playing next to other partners.
Right, it’s very simple. A doubles pair calling itself the outsider before walking on court, I said it back in January: that’s the best position in tennis. In ninety per cent of cases, and I’m being kind, the one who says he doesn’t believe in it is the one who has prepared everything. Me, in Kitzbühel, in ’92, I was the outsider against a future top 10. The score, everyone’s forgotten it, the spirit was there. Careful, I’m not saying Belgium are favourites. I’m clarifying that they haven’t lost yet.
Silly question, but are you allowed to call yourself the outsider when it’s two against two? I’m told that’s what being cautious sounds like. Anyway, I still have a lot to learn.
On the other side, Oberleitner, 27, is one of two newcomers in the Austrian squad and will play his first ever Davis Cup match. He has sixteen Challenger titles and won his first ATP title in Winston-Salem in August. He and Miedler plan to play together from now on, with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles as the target.
It’s true, we checked: DH Les Sports+.
