United States Captures Austria Cup Title with Unbeaten Run

The United States Masters 55 Men’s team turned in a flawless performance at the 2025 Austria Cup, going undefeated through round-robin and knockout play to capture the world championship in Lisbon and Oeiras, Portugal.

The Austria Cup is one of several prestigious team trophies awarded during the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters 50 & 55 World Team Championships. Modeled after the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, the event represents the pinnacle of international masters tennis, where players compete for national pride and the chance to be crowned world champions. Matches follow a best-of-three format: two singles contests followed by a deciding doubles match if necessary. The field regularly features former touring pros, collegiate standouts, and lifelong competitors who continue to excel at the sport’s highest senior levels.

Held August 3-8 on Portugal’s red clay, this year’s championships featured 82 teams from 30 countries competing across multiple cups. For the United States, lifting the Austria Cup was not just a display of skill and teamwork, it was a reaffirmation of the country’s status as a powerhouse in international masters competition. Over six days, the Americans met every challenge with precision and poise, never dropping a single tie.

The U.S. squad was led by captain Dana Gill of San Jose, California, and included Peter Smith of Long Beach, Eoin Collins of Houston, Texas, and Kurt Koop of Streamwood, Illinois. Collins, already a decorated figure in the Masters circuit, entered looking to add another team title before defending his individual crown the following week. Smith, the former USC men’s tennis head coach who guided the Trojans to five NCAA team championships, now serves as Director of Tennis at the historic Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates. In May 2024, he also represented the United States in the Von Cramm Cup (Men’s 60 & Over) in Mexico, adding valuable recent international team competition experience to his résumé.

Drawn into Group B with Switzerland and South Africa, the U.S. set the tone early, sweeping both opponents to finish first in the group. Their consistency on clay and strong team chemistry proved decisive, while Switzerland advanced in second and South Africa was eliminated.

The knockout stage began with a high-stakes quarterfinal against France. Collins opened for the U.S., facing Jacques-Olivier Moers in a tightly contested match. The Texan claimed the first set in a tense tiebreak, dropped the second, but surged through the third to win 7-6, 5-7, 6-0.

Gill followed against France’s Guillaume Bousquet but was unable to come away with the win, falling 5-7, 2-6, leveling the tie at 1-1.

That left the deciding doubles to Smith and Koop. The pair delivered under pressure, earning a straight-sets 6-4, 6-2 victory to send the Americans into the semifinals.

“It was a total blast,” Smith said of the week. “We had a great group of guys. The competition is fair while still being fierce. It’s like you wait your whole life for this kind of competition. Everyone plays so hard. You represent so much bigger than yourself when you have ‘USA’ on your shirt. At the same time, we are so grateful that we have a chance to compete in something so meaningful. The competition is bigger than winning because you have respect for the competitors and the tournament itself.”

Reflecting on the experience, Smith added: “To be able to play in a competition like the ITF World Masters is a dream. Imagine a tournament where everyone tries their hardest, but if they don’t win, they’re happy for you. It’s every player’s dream to be here and be a participant, winning is just the icing on the cake. Thanks to my incredible teammates, Eoin Collins, Dana Gill, and Kurt Koop. Thanks to all my juniors at the Jack Kramer Club for getting me ready to compete at this level…I could not do this without you.”

The semifinal matchup against the Netherlands was decided before the doubles court was even needed. Gill battled past Bart Theelen in three sets, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead. Collins then defeated Marc Duncker 6-3, 6-3, clinching the tie and sending the U.S. to the championship match.

The final against Germany capped the Americans’ week in dominant fashion. Gill opened with a confident 6-3, 6-3 win over Frank Potthoff, putting the U.S. one point away from the title.

Collins sealed the championship with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Oliver Joehl. Once again, the doubles match was not required.

A Championship to Remember

From the first ball in group play to the last point in the final, the United States did not lose a single tie. The balance of Collins’ steady baseline play, Gill’s leadership, Smith’s competitive fire, and Koop’s dependable performance made them an exceptionally tough team to beat.

The win also sets the stage for Collins’ run at the ITF Masters Individual Championships, August 9-16, at the same venue. He will seek a third consecutive singles crown after winning in 2023 and 2024, along with a defense of his doubles title.

For Gill, Collins, Smith, and Koop, the 2025 Austria Cup was more than a victory, it was a celebration of camaraderie, national pride, and the enduring spirit of competition.