Tennis
For the ranking 80th. Filip Misolic did not start the 2026 tennis year as he wanted. The 24-year-old Styrian lost on Saturday in the first qualifying round for the ATP tournament in Brisbane against the Australian Rinky Hijikata 3:6 3:6. There were Austrian successes on the WTA tour.
After Sinja Kraus on Friday (6:4 6:7 6:3 against Anastasija Sevastova), Lilli Tagger also mastered the first qualifying round in Auckland with a 4:6 6:4 6:1 against the Brazilian Laura Pigossi. In the main competition there could be a red-white-red duel against Julia Grabher, who will face a qualifier in the first round. Austria’s new number one, Anastasia Potapova, will face Australian Darja Kassatkina at the start of the WTA 500 tournament in Brisbane.
Austria’s second best men’s player, Sebastian Ofner, still has his start ahead of him. He makes his comeback next week at the Challenger in Canberra after having to end last season early due to a left heel problem.
“Everything has been good since mid-November and I’ve been able to train fully. I’m really happy that I can stand on the field without any pain,” said the 29-year-old Styrian, who is currently number 132 in the world. He will be accompanied on the tour by trainer Philip Bachmaier. After Canberra, appearances in the qualification for the Australian Open and in Montpellier are planned before the Davis Cup duel with Japan in Tokyo.
ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane
(Australien, 680.140 Dollar, Hardcourt)
WTA 250 tournament in Auckland
(Neuseeland, 283.347 Dollar, Hardcourt)
