Alex Knaff, SEAT Luxembourg Davis Cup team; Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September 2026, the SEAT Luxembourg Davis Cup team lost 4-0 to Hungary in their Davis Cup World Group I tie, played on home soil in Luxembourg.

On the opening day, Louis Van Herck (ATP ranking #1705) stepped in for Luxembourg’s injured top-ranked player Chris Rodesch. This made Van Herck the Grand Duchy’s second-ranked player for the tie and placed him against Hungary’s number one, Fabian Marozsan (ATP ranking #60). Van Herck put up a determined fight but lost 4-6, 4-6 in one hour and nineteen minutes.

Louis Van Herck produced five aces compared with one for Fabian Marozsan and converted both of his break-point opportunities. However, the Hungarian player proved more effective on his first serve, winning 77% of such points compared with 57% for his Luxembourgish opponent, and secured 62 points overall against 49.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu after the match, Louis Van Herck acknowledged that the late change had initially left him nervous. “When Chris [Rodesch] was out, I knew I had to step up and play. I was really scared, of course, because I am not used to that stage,” he said. “The team did an incredible job, telling me to just enjoy being on court and have fun.” He added that the tension had been evident during the opening games but eased as the match progressed. “I could fight back and give a good fight to Fabian [Marozsan], and I am really proud of that. Of course, he was the better player on court and played better in the important moments, but I am quite proud of my performance.”

In the second singles match, Luxembourg’s Alex Knaff (ATP ranking #761) faced Hungary’s second-ranked player, Zsombor Piros (ATP ranking #116), losing 4-6, 0-6 in one hour and eight minutes. Both players recorded three aces, but Zsombor Piros proved more effective in decisive moments, winning 74% of his first-serve points compared with 52% for his Luxembourgish opponent and converting five of eleven break points. The Hungarian player won 61 points overall against 41 for Alex Knaff, giving Hungary a 2-0 lead after the opening day.

On Saturday, Alex Knaff and Raphael Calzi faced the Hungarian pair of Matyas Fuele and Peter Makk in the decisive doubles match. After losing the opening set 1-6, the Luxembourgish duo produced a stronger performance in the second and forced a tie-break. They recovered from 0-3 to level the score but were unable to overturn their opponents’ momentum, eventually losing the tie-break 3-7 and the match 1-6, 6-7 (3-7).

The Hungarian pair produced six aces and won 75% of their first-serve points, compared with 67% for the Luxembourgish duo. Matyas Fuele and Peter Makk also converted two of five break-point opportunities and won 71 points overall against Luxembourg’s 52. The result gave Hungary an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.

The match marked Alex Knaff’s final appearance for the SEAT Luxembourg Davis Cup team. During a farewell ceremony, Grand Duke Henri presented the 28-year-old player with a commemorative statuette, while spectators thanked him with warm applause and cheers. Addressing those present, Alex Knaff said: “Thank you very much for everything you have done for me.” He also reflected on the experiences and memories he had shared with the national team.

With the outcome of the tie already decided, Luxembourg captain Gilles Muller selected eighteen-year-old debutant Matiej Reiter for the concluding singles match against Peter Makk (ATP ranking #517). Reiter lost 1-6, 2-6 in 33 minutes.

Summing up the tie, Louis Van Herck expressed confidence in the future of Luxembourg tennis despite the defeat. “For a small country like Luxembourg, I think we are doing an incredible job. We have Chris [Rodesch], who is an unbelievable player, and I think the sky is the limit for him,” he said. “If Chris [Rodesch] is our leader and all the young players behind him follow his path and have an example like this, I think the future is really bright for tennis in Luxembourg.”

The SEAT Luxembourg Davis Cup team will now play their next tie at the beginning of 2027 to defend their place in World Group I.