Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Austria in a fortnight will be the eleventh time that the two teams have met with GB currently holding the upper hand 7-3.
The first meeting came in 1955 when Herman David’s three-man team of Roger Becker, Tony Mottram and Geoffrey Paish claimed a 4-1 victory in Vienna. This was followed by three more wins for Britain before the Austrians got off the mark with a 3-2 triumph in Edinburgh in 1970.
Following two victories for Great Britain, Austria, whose team included the great clay courter Thomas Muster, recorded a white-wash 5-0 in 1988 on red clay in Vienna. This win gained the Austrians promotion to the World Group and they went on to reach the quarter-final the following year before narrowly losing to a strong Sweden side 2-3.
However, Britain gained revenge in 1991 when Jeremy Bates chipped in with two rubbers to help Tony Pickard’s team record a 3-1 win and gain promotion to the World Group.
The most recent tie between the two nations came in another World Group Play-Off match in 2004 when Austria were this time victorious 3-2. The deciding rubber was won by Stefan Koubek who defeated Greg Rusedski on red clay in Portschach.
This year’s World Group Play-Off tie between Great Britain and Austria is being played on The All England Club’s No 1 Court between Friday 19th September and Sunday 21st September.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 0844 847 2490. For more information about the Great Britain Vs Austria Davis Cup tie, including ticket prices and details on British Tennis Members’ discount, visit the Davis Cup area on the LTA website.