Vienna prepares WAC stadium for Davis Cup match against Belgium

Preparations are underway at the Wiener Athletiksport Club (WAC) in Vienna for the Davis Cup qualifying match between Austria and Belgium, scheduled for September 18 and 19, 2026.

A specialized clay court has been constructed using a method identical to the French Open, featuring a base of 300 tons of gravel and a layer of limestone, topped with four millimeters of rolled red sand. This construction allows the surface to become playable within a few days of completion.

Austria is seeking its second consecutive appearance in the Davis Cup Final 8. While Belgium enters the match as the favorite due to higher-ranked players such as Alexander Blockx, Zizou Bergs, and Raphael Collignon, Austrian team captain Jürgen Melzer is banking on home-court advantage and crowd support. A temporary stadium capable of seating 5,000 spectators is expected to be completed by September 9.