Between Jokers and the "Extinction of Doubles Players"

Successful debut for the new doubles pairing of Neil Oberleitner and Lucas Miedler!

The two defeated the Belgian duo Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 7:6 (5), 7:5, securing the first match point for the ÖTV team in the Davis Cup clash (For the match report >>>).

Debutante Neil Oberleitner described the experience as overwhelming: "I'm very happy that I was able to perform like that today. A big reason for that is the fans who stood behind us today, and of course Luki by my side. I'm very pleased that our entry into our future partnership is starting this way."

"Incredible Debut from Neil"

The first set was on a knife's edge. In the tie-break, it wasn't clear for a long time which doubles team would hold their nerve at the crucial moment:

"The first set was really tight, it could have gone the other way. I believe we played very stably in the decisive moments today. Neil also returned incredibly well when it mattered. I'm happy that we could start like this right away," Lucas Miedler summarized.

Lucas Miedler was full of praise for his new doubles partner: "Incredible debut from Neil. It's not a given that you go out there and play like that right away, in your first Davis Cup."

The newly built stadium also spurred on the Lower Austrian: "Incredible again. It was really full, a really great atmosphere from start to finish."

Beginning of the Partnership

The big goal is the 2028 Olympic Games. There's still some time until then, but the new duo wants to immediately compete in a variety of tournaments:

"So we will start in Tokyo and play the Asia tour together. I hope we'll then be in Vienna and then the 1000-level tournament in Paris. Maybe we'll add a 250-level tournament. The goal is the 2028 Olympics, and on the ATP Tour, I'd aim for Top 30, Top 20 in the future - and maybe win something at the Grand Slams," Neil Oberleitner added with a wink.

The decision to play together was easy for Neil Oberleitner: "I always wanted to play with Luki, I told him that. When he asked me, it was clear that I would choose him. Thank God I did. I'm happy with the decision and I'm looking forward to everything that's to come."

Stability and the Moves at the Net

One could see in the Davis Cup that this team harmonizes well together. According to Miedler, the two also complement each other perfectly in their playing style: "He has what I need. The power, a good serve, a very good return, is very agile at the net."

The strengths of the Tulln native are meant to come to the fore even better: "Of course, I can give him stability from the back, I can put him in a position where he can make moves at the front and place his volleys well. Yes, it's simply a setup that can harmonize well again. I think you saw that today."

Neil Oberleitner also enjoys the shared fun on tour: "Luki likes to have fun, I like to have fun too. He enjoys teasing a few people, but he somehow brings out the good mood in you."

The possibility of going to Bologna triggers euphoria in both of them: "It would be an incredible achievement. A lot can still happen before Bologna. But if Austria were there, it would be an incredible thing to be among the top eight again. On paper, we simply don't have the top players that other nations do."

"On paper, we're not among the big names. But I believe fighting spirit and team spirit, that's what connects us," Oberleitner added.

"Extinction of Doubles Players"

Also in focus in the tennis world is the discussion about a major doubles reform, planned by the ATP.

Player fields are to be halved, prize money reallocated, and access for singles professionals facilitated.

Doubles specialist Miedler doesn't mince words and has a clear opinion on it: "The first plan was completely radical. It was simply an extinction of doubles players. You have to say it that harshly. Those who were already at the top would have held on, but you would have had no chance to catch up. That's just how it is."

The reasoning from the ATP and tournament directors causes him incomprehension: "Also the argument that we need more money for people ranked between 30 and 100 - someone ranked between 30 and 100 makes at least a million. Of course, they'll take the additional 100,000, that's clear. But you're taking it away from someone who already earns less. That can't be."

"Do You Tell a Hirscher He Should Have Done Downhill?"

One criticism from the ATP is that doubles has developed into its own discipline. Many players are reportedly trying to no longer pursue a singles career and instead immediately start a doubles career.

This argument also meets with incomprehension from Lucas Miedler: "Of course, the path probably leads to singles first and then to doubles. But do you tell a Hirscher that he should have also done downhill? It is, of course, a different discipline and it's not the main product, we all know that, that's singles, but that's not the point."