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Former world No. 8 Jurgen Melzer is thrilled about becoming the new Austrian Davis Cup captain. Melzer, 40, loved playing for Austria in the Davis Cup and now he has a chance to captain the Austrian team. Melzer made the Davis Cup quarterfinal with Austria in 2012.
“There is nothing greater than representing your country,” Melzer said, per the Davis Cup website. “Now that I can no longer do that as a player, it's an absolute honour 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”.
Melzer replaces Stefan koubek
If Austria makes the Davis Cup Finals, Koubek will return as the team's co-coach.
“Although I knew it would end, it’s a shame for me,” explained Koubek. “Especially after such a Davis Cup without an audience in Innsbruck. But I'm happy to be able to give full throttle again as the team's co-coach after a bit of a gap”.
Melzer finished his career in Vienna, where he and Alexander Zverev lost their doubles opener. "I viewed this as a bonus, to get to play one last match at home,” Melzer told the ATP website. “Saying goodbye at home is special to me.
It’s where my career started, it’s where I had a lot of success." Melzer enjoyed a long career and he always tried to be a good ambassador for the sport. “I’ve always tried to be a good ambassador for the sport and make this sport as likeable as possible.
What I liked today is the past two days, [for those] playing on this court in the city there were not a lot of spectators,” Melzer said. “But today they actually showed up and I could say goodbye and that meant a lot to me… I will remember this one for sure."