The best player on Melzer’s team is ranked 79th. The Azzurri lead 5-1 in previous matches, but in 1990 in Vienna, it was a disaster.

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Muster and the defeat of 1990

The last time Italy and Austria met in the Davis Cup was in 1990, and it was a defeat for the Azzurri: 5-0 in Vienna, with the hosts led by Thomas Muster. Since then, everything has changed, and in tomorrow’s quarterfinal match at the Finals 8 in Bologna, the favorites can only be Filippo Volandri’s two-time defending champions, even without star player Jannik Sinner and world number eight Lorenzo Musetti. Among their opponents, led by Jurgen Melzer, there is not a single top 50 player. Apart from the match 35 years ago, all previous encounters have been in Italy’s favor: 5-1 for the Azzurri. Here are the players called up and the stars of the Austrian team.