Austria’s most successful coach, Günter Bresnik, has added 20-year-old Joel Schwärzler to his stable just two weeks ago, a move that could reshape the country’s next wave of men’s tennis, sport.ORF.at reported. Schwärzler, the 2024 junior world No. 1, left coach Markus Hipfl and began training with the 65-year-old Bresnik, who has guided Lukas Neumayer for roughly six years.
The partnership is on a trial basis. Bresnik told the Austrian Press Agency that he sees a hard-working athlete with plenty of untapped ability, but he declined to commit long term. “I will never again say that this is a player I’m now training with permanently,” he said. “I don’t know how loyal people are. And I don’t know how he’ll handle it.”
Schwärzler Admits He Has Stood in His Own Way
Schwärzler has carried the reputation of a “sloppy talent” and acknowledged it himself ahead of the Davis Cup. “I know that I’ve often stood in my own way, and slowly it’s getting on my nerves,” he said. “I definitely want to change that.” He added that he needs pressure to perform, otherwise he is too sloppy.
Bresnik, a former Davis Cup captain, said he could not confirm any lack of attitude. “That’s a nice guy, hard-working, also a relatively good athlete,” he said. “And the desire to improve has to be there anyway.” The coach said Schwärzler’s issues are not about shot speed; the work lies in the forehand and the second serve. “There’s a lot of potential there, and for me only a fraction of that potential is activated,” Bresnik said.
A Race for the Next Gen Finals in Reggio Calabria
Schwärzler is also chasing a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals, the season-ending event for the eight best players aged 20 and under, scheduled for Dec. 9–13 in Reggio Calabria, Italy. He currently sits seventh in the race, meaning one more strong week could put him in the field.
The tournament, held since 2017, has launched major careers: Jannik Sinner won in 2019, Carlos Alcaraz in 2021, Learner Tien in 2023 and João Fonseca in 2024. Qualifying would also give Schwärzler international visibility at a high-profile event.
What Remains Unanswered
Whether Bresnik’s trial with Schwärzler becomes permanent is the open question at the center of this story. The coach has not said how long the trial lasts or what Schwärzler must show, and Schwärzler’s own deadline is Dec. 13 in Reggio Calabria, where a top-eight finish in the Next Gen race would confirm his place among the world’s best young players.
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