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Asian tennis successes in Groß-Siegharts – noe.ORF.at

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At the 33rd Austrian Open in wheelchair tennis, 60 top players from 20 nations played for victory in Groß-Siegharts (district of Waidhofen an der Thaya). In the end, a Chinese and a Japanese prevented home wins.

Since the triumph of the Tyrolean Martin Legner in 2009, no Austrian has been able to win the country’s largest wheelchair tennis tournament. This year Nico Langmann from Vienna failed as a title contender in the semi-finals. The 25-year-old lost in two sets against the American Casey Ratzlaff.

Nevertheless, Langmann is very satisfied with the tournament week in the Waldviertel. “Groß-Siegharts is an absolute highlight for me. It was the first international tournament that I played in my career. I’ve made friends for life here and that’s why this tournament is worth as much to me as the big Grand Slam tournaments.

Association Wheelchair Tennis Austria

Austria’s number 1 Nico Langmann has to wait for his first individual tournament win in Groß-Siegharts

“To me, Groß-Siegharts is synonymous with New York,” laughs Langmann, who was also eliminated in doubles alongside Alwande Sikhosana from South Africa in the semi-finals. Japan’s Takuya Miki won the singles competition after beating Langmann’s conqueror Casey Ratzlaff. Josef in the final Riegler from Texing (Melk district) was eliminated in the round of 16.

Victory for China in women’s singles

In the women’s competition, Zhenzhen Shu (see picture above) was in a class of his own. The top seeded Chinese only gave up eight games on her way to winning the tournament. Christina Pesendorfer was the only Austrian in the main competition and was eliminated in the first round.

Tennis Disabled Sports Groß-Siegharts Austrian Open

Association Wheelchair Tennis Austria

Katharina Krüger from Germany has been a regular guest in the Waldviertel for years

A regular guest in the Waldviertel is Katharina Krüger. The German won the doubles competition this year and reached the semi-finals in singles. She also enjoys the atmosphere in Groß-Siegharts. “It’s very informal here with lots of people looking after us around the clock. You always feel very comfortable there.”

Organizer relieved about “trend reversal”

After two difficult pandemic years without an event, tournament director Philipp Dörre was able to hold the “Austrian Open” again this year in the usual form. “A few weeks ago we didn’t know if we could do it all. But both the athletes and the sponsors and numerous volunteers made this tournament possible again and I am proud that we are now in the same position as before the pandemic.

Next year the 34th edition of the “Austrian Open” will take place. Then the local players – after 14 years of waiting – finally want to achieve a home win again.

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