Luxembourg Ready for Davis Cup Challenge Against Ukraine

On Thursday 5 February 2026, a press conference was held ahead of the Davis Cup World Group I Play-Off tie between Luxembourg and Ukraine, which is set to take place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2026 at the Coque in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, as part of the Davis Cup competition.

The SEAT Lëtzebuerg Davis Cup Team, led by captain Gilles Muller, arrives well prepared for the upcoming tie, with particular focus on Luxembourg’s top-ranked player Chris Rodesch. The national number one comes into the Davis Cup in excellent form, having won two consecutive ATP Challenger tournaments in Portugal ahead of joining the squad. He is joined by Alex Knaff (ATP ranked #687), Aaron Gil Garcia, Louis Van Herck (ATP ranked #1290) and Raphael Calzi(ATP ranked #1348).

Speaking ahead of the tie, Chris Rodesch told Chronicle.lu: “I feel great. I think I can take this confidence from Portugal into the Davis Cup. It’s going to be a different kind of match, though. The Davis Cup is not a regular tour event. There are different emotions involved, which are part of the competition. I feel ready and I hope I can carry this confidence into the tie.”

Captain Gilles Muller also addressed the expectations surrounding the tie, warning against underestimating the opposition despite Luxembourg being considered favourites on paper: “On paper, we may be the favourites, but a Davis Cup tie is never easy. Managing that status will be one of the main challenges this weekend. Chris’ results over the past two weeks have raised expectations, but these matches will not be easy. It will be even more difficult. The most important thing is that the players stay focused, ignore outside noise and concentrate on what happens on the court.”

Luxembourg’s second-ranked player Alex Knaff also expressed confidence ahead of the tie, saying he feels fully prepared both physically and mentally. “I feel very good and ready. I’ve had some strong matches, which was my goal at the start of the year – to play a lot of matches at a good level. I’m very confident in my preparation. I know that when I step on court, I’ll be ready to fight until the end all weekend. I have no doubts about my level.”

The Ukrainian Davis Cup team will be without its top-ranked player Vitaliy Sachko (ATP ranked #182) for the upcoming tie. Captain Orest Tereshchuk confirmed that the decision was linked to the specific demands of Davis Cup competition and player workload. “We have to respect it and look at the whole picture,” Orest Tereshchuk said. “The Davis Cup is special and requires special preparation and recovery. Some players come out of these ties without energy. Vitaliy is part of the team and I hope he will be again in the future, but this time he is not here.”

The rest of the Ukrainian squad remains unchanged compared to the previous Davis Cup tie, in which they defeated the Dominican Republic 4-0. The team is led by Viacheslav Bielinsky (ATP ranked #376), alongside Vladyslav Orlov(ATP ranked #504), Oleksandr Ovcharenko (ATP ranked #509) and Oleksii Krutykh (ATP ranked #569).

Orest Tereshchuk emphasised to Chronicle.lu that all four nominated players are strong team competitors, admitting that he faces a difficult selection decision ahead of the tie. “This group are real team players and that gives me a bit of a headache when it comes to choosing,” he said, adding that the squad is well-balanced, highly motivated and that he can rely on any of them.

He also commented on the playing conditions, noting that the court is faster than his team would prefer, but added that adapting to surfaces prepared by the host nation is part of the Davis Cup and that Ukraine would try to adjust during the remaining practice days.

The Ukrainian captain also took the opportunity to thank Luxembourg and Western Europe for their continued support of Ukraine, expressing his gratitude for the help provided to Ukrainian civilians and the army.

According to Claude Lamberty, President of the Luxembourg Tennis Federation (FLT), the tie is completely sold out. He confirmed that more than 1,000 spectators are expected at the Coque on both Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday 6 February 2026, the draw for the Davis Cup World Group I Play-Off matches will take place at Luxembourg City Hall.