The big tennis tournaments such as the Erste Bank Open in the Wiener Stadthalle, the classic clay court in Kitzbühel or the women’s hall event in Linz are of course the big tennis highlights in Austria every year.
But how important the smaller international tournaments are, was particularly evident in Tulln and Vienna last week.
For domestic players, it is the perfect way to gain first experiences at an international level, as well as important points for the respective world rankings.
Austrian successes in Tulln and La Ville
Tulln semi-finalist Joel Schwärzler was able to improve on his new Career High of 247 by 15 positions. Quarter finalist Sandro Kopp made 63 points ranks in the ATP ranking and is now 333. In addition, there is the double title from Schwärzler alongside Neil Oberleitner.
It was even more successful for the ÖTV women at the “Alpstar Ladies Open” in the Vienna tennis club La Ville, where the later winner Sinja Kraus, shooting star Lilli Tagger and the only 15 years old reached the semi-finals.
“Playing in front of your own audience is always something special. It is a lot of fun. It is a very special atmosphere to play in your own country,” was also the home game in Vienna for the daymaid near Milan near Milan, even if the Amstetten finalist “already” failed in the semi-finals.
“Having such tournaments in Austria is of course very important,” says ÖTV sports coordinator Marion Maruska, who is also captain of the Billie-Jean King Cup team and is happy to watch the Austrian players on these rare occasions. Otherwise they are traveling all year round all year round. “
Important support for domestic athletes
Above all, however, it is important for the players to have tournaments on ITF and at Challenger level in their own country.
Because one of the biggest problems of young, aspiring athletes is to cover the high travel expenses on international tours. Even without an accompanying trainer, the trips can get a lot of money from one country to the other.
Due to the low entry hurdle, the chance that more domestic players will try nationally and maybe the one or the other will end up in the end of the WTA or ATP tour in the end.
But even for even more established players, it is a great way to get important world ranking points with low-cost and lower effort in order to continue working forward in the ranking.
Bard concerns from ÖTV sports director Melzer
ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer refers in conversation with Eirala1 In addition, on “the possibility of Wild Cards. Joel, Anna, Lilli – they were all at the start with Wild Cards. Otherwise they would have to go to the qualification and that is of course a huge reason why we try to let such tournaments take place in Austria.”
The 44-year-old Lower Austrian, who himself was number eight in the tennis world, has been very important since the beginning of his commitment to the domestic association to have more international tournaments in his own country.
In 2025 there were at least eight ITF tournaments for men, four for women and three Challenger tournaments (men) in Austria.
Lower entry hurdle thanks to the home tournament
“These tournaments are extremely important,” explains Oliver Ploner, coach from Tyrolean top talent Anna Pircher (top talent Anna Pircher-which makes it so strong >>>) in conversation with Eirala1.
“It is nice for every tennis player to play at home. Tennis is also a very expensive sport, especially if you are at the beginning of a professional career. You can’t cover all the costs with the prize money. This is very difficult.”
Ploner refers to countries such as Spain and Italy that have managed to reduce this entry hurdle with many tournaments in their own country in recent years.
“The Spaniards started and the Italians have followed. In Italy you can play an international professional tournament almost every week. Success proves you right. You just have to look at how many successful Italians are on the tour next to the Sinner.”
Spain and Italy stand out
If you look at the numbers, they are truly impressive. In 2025, Spain exposes 81 ITF tournaments as well as 13 men-challenger or five women’s WTA-125 (the equivalent to the Challengergers). Italy comes to 62 ITF tournaments, 19 Challenger and eight WTA-125.
|
Land |
Itf-men | ITF women | M-Challenger | WTA125 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 8 | 4 | 3 | |
| Czech Republic | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
| Slovakia | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
| Italy | 32 | 30 | 19 | 8 |
| Spain | 44 | 37 | 13 | 5 |
| Deutschland | 16 | 16 | 6 | |
| France | 25 | 27 | 20 | 5 |
| Portugal | 17 | 16 | 11 | 3 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| Switzerland | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Croatia | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Serbia | 23 | 20 | ||
| Slovenia | 9 | 9 | 1 | |
| Great Britain | 9 | 13 | 6 | 2 |
| Belgium | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Bosnia | 5 | 1 | ||
| Greece | 17 | 13 | 6 | |
| Hungary | 7 | 3 | ||
| Pole | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| Sweden | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
| Romania | 17 | 19 | 5 | 0 |
A look at the ATP ranking shows the effects of the big tournament density: While Austria can “only” show 26 players in the world rankings, it is 90 and Italy 155 at Spain.
Ploner: “These countries have managed to bring tournaments for their own players into their own country. This gives more local players the opportunity to play tournaments at an international level. This is a very tried and tested system. It would definitely be good if we got a few tournaments.”
Melzer can understand the desire, but emphasizes that he wants to remain realistic in this regard: “Of course, it would be ideal to get even more tournaments. In the end, you also have to look at the current government – the savings pen is set up everywhere. It will not be easier in the future. We are happy about every tournament that we have and are grateful that the tournament operators do it.”
Difficult economic situation
It already sounds between the lines: In view of the precarious situation in the international economy, the preservation of the status quo in the Austrian tournament landscape will probably be a challenge.
After all, most organizers are dependent on wealthy supporters and sponsors. Without the public sector support, many events are hardly imaginable.
These ÖTV women cracked the top 100 of the WTA ranking
Tulln (3,500 spectators in the tournament week) and La Ville (2,500 spectators) were well attended due to the red and white-red successes and the good weather, but the organizers must be careful when calculating. A collective start of the local heroes is just as possible as a week of rainy weather.
Depending on the tournament category, the budget is between 40,000 euros (M15 or W15) and 700,000 euros (large Challenger tournament). It depends on the organizer how much risk he wants to take.
Salzburg Open ends in bankruptcy proceedings
In the case of the Salzburg Open, the Challenger tournament in the Mozart city, which was held from 2022 to 2024, the risk was too high. At the beginning of the year, insolvency proceedings against the organizer company opened. According to SN information, the missing sum in the low six-digit range was.
As an Austrian tennis fan, you can only hope that Salzburg will remain an exception and that the domestic tournaments are facing a nice and long future. The great importance of these events is highlighted far too rarely. It is the substructure of a successful tennis scene at the top.
Incidentally, the Challenger tournament will take place in Bad Waltersdorf next week (14th to 21st September). A visit is definitely worth it-and would be an important support for home tennis sports!
These 21 Austrians cracked the top 100 of the ATP ranking
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