Erste Bank Open in Vienna: The open day of the hall starts on Thursday.
“Something new again. That will work well, ”says Hans Kary, Austria's number one for years and gray with dignity.
The small, 1,500-seat tennis area on Heumarkt, where the wrestlers once fought, also impressed the other first guests. Stefan Koubek was also enthusiastic about the side court at the Erste Bank Open. “I am convinced that people will accept that,” said the Davis Cup captain, took out his racket and hit the first balls in the new hall with Varta boss Michael Tojner.
The concept of “Tennis 2 go”? On the grounds of the Vienna Ice Skating Club, visitors can purchase tickets for two hours for 10 euros. Whoever stays longer pays more. “It's the same principle as in a parking garage,” says tournament boss Herwig Straka, who also borrowed from the beach volleyball championship this summer. After all, the clientele is similar. “Tennis goes City” is the motto. And it's almost true, the area borders at least on the 1st district.
Host, sponsor and pioneer: Varta boss Tojner
Tsitsipas on Friday
When does it start? Qualification starts on Saturday, and the first games will also take place here at Heumarkt. You can get a taste of it on Thursday and Friday at the open days when the first stars train. A tie-break event (with tickets) starts at 5 p.m. Among them are the world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas, Spain's young star Carlos Alcaraz and local hero Dennis Novak, who recently recorded an upward trend under the wing of coach Günter Bresnik.
Novak will presumably not receive a wild card for the main competition and like Jurij Rodionov has to qualify. The 22-year-old just recently made a comeback. “I had a viral infection, I'm slowly getting to 100 percent.” One can also look forward to Jürgen Melzer's farewell performance: He is playing doubles with the German Alexander Zverev.
