Austria’s number one, Sebastian Ofner, and last year’s finalist Dominic Thiem will also be playing at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel (July 20th to 27th) this year.
The two local figureheads are the first permanent starters at the local clay court classic, as the tournament organizers announced on Wednesday. For the tennis aces, the tournament will also serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics in Paris. The game is also played on sand there.
Thiem hopes for a “summer fairy tale”
Tournament director Alexander Antonitsch wants to position the event in the Gamsstadt this year with a view to the Summer Games. He hopes that other top players will follow Ofner and Thiem’s example and “view the Generali Open as a dress rehearsal for the Olympic Games.”
The Styrian Ofner, who reached the semi-finals in Kitzbühel seven years ago, is relying on the home advantage. “Maybe things will go better this year than last year.” In 2023, as a seeded player, he had already failed in the round of 16.
Thiem won the tournament in 2019 and only lost out in the final against Argentine Sebastian Baez last year. “As everyone knows, it is a very special tournament for me,” explains the Lower Austrian. “I will never forget making it to the final last year. I hope there will be another summer fairy tale this year.”
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2024-01-10 14:37:52
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