MINSK, 6 April (BelTA) – Egor Gerasimov (ranked 263rd in the world) will play Gerald Melzer (109) in the opening rubber of Belarus' Davis Cup second-round tie against Austria in Minsk on 7 April, BelTA has learned.
Last week the two players faced each other at the ATP Challenger in Saint Brieuc, with the Belarusian claiming the 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Friday's second singles rubber will be between Ilya Ivashko (172) and Jurgen Melzer (156).
Max Mirnyi (world's number 34 in the doubles) and Ilya Ivashko will contest Saturday's doubles rubber (8 April) against Alexander Peya (26th in the doubles) and Julian Knowle (81st in the doubles).
Two more singles rubbers are scheduled for Sunday, 9 April: Ilya Ivashko vs Gerald Melzer, Egor Gerasimov vs Jurgen Melzer.
The entry is free.
Under the Davis Cup rules, team captains Vladimir Volchkov and Stefan Koubek may introduce substitutions after the first matchday. Yaroslav Shilo may take part as a substitute on Belarus' behalf.
Belarus and Austria have never played each other on the Davis Cup court. Now, Belarus is ranked 31st in the Davis Cup team overall standings, Austria is 34th.
The forthcoming tie will be the second one for Belarus this season. In February 2017 Belarus beat Romania 3-2 in Minsk. Austria did not play in the first round. The winner of the Belarus vs Austria tie will continue contention for the World Group. The runner-up will stay in the Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group I.
