A lot of praise, but no luck with the weather in Mauthausen

“It’s a shame that we lost Dominic (Thiem, note) weren’t there in the final. But the tournament was great – except for the weather,” said Florian Leitgeb, director of the 2nd SKE Danube Upper Austria Open, which was “prey” to the Serbian Thiem conqueror Hamad Medjedovic.

The 19-year-old Serb won the rainy and twice interrupted final of the tennis challenger in Mauthausen against Styrian Filip Misolic 6: 2, 6: 7 (5), 6: 4 and received a glass trophy, 100 world ranking points and prize money of 16,020 euros.

“It’s a shame, I would have liked to win. Nevertheless, it was a good week,” said 21-year-old Misolic (ATP No. 129), who will now meticulously prepare for qualifying for the French Open. On the way to Paris there are a few ailments to heal.

Thiem: “Take positive things with you”

Ex-US Open champion Thiem, who had brought a sold-out house to Mauthausen since Tuesday, focused on his rather meager semifinal performance against Medjedovic (6: 7, 2: 6), the 19-year-old number 214 in the ATP computer, already on his next business trip.

Austria’s tennis star, who has moved up to 88th place in the ranking, is playing another challenger in Bordeaux this week. The first round opponent will be the French “enfant terrible” Benoit Paire (No. 160), Thiem is head-to-head 3-0 ahead. “I’m leaving the Mühlviertel with mixed feelings. The last match was bad, there’s nothing to sugarcoat it. But I won three games and reached a semi-final for the first time this season. You can take something positive with you,” explained the 29th -year old Lichtenwörther. Postscript: “I felt very comfortable here.”

Leitgeb likes to hear that. Because his credo is: “If the players, employees, sponsors and spectators are doing well, then everyone is happy and then the event is a success.” The positive feedback supports this.

Only words of respect and recognition came from ÖTV President Martin Ohneberg: “We need these tournaments and also doers who are willing to take the entrepreneurial risk. To set up such a challenger, you need 400,000 up to 500,000 euros and many volunteers who sacrifice their free time. It’s important that everyone pulls together.” Leitgeb’s ideal scenario envisages a challenger in every federal state, currently there are four of this type (Mauthausen, Tulln, Salzburg, Bad Waltersdorf). These are stages that local talents and seasoned ÖTV players long for.

sensation just missed

Only a few points separated Julia Grabher from her greatest success to date and her first victory over a top ten player. The woman from Vorarlberg lost in the third round of the WTA 1000 event in Rome to world number ninth Darja Kasatkina (Rus) after 3:17 hours 5: 7, 6: 4, 6: 7 (2). “It’s a shame, I had my chances. But I can see that things are going in the right direction,” said Grabher, who will reach a career high (probably 74th place) in the new world rankings. The collaboration with Günter Bresnik bears fruit.

• 2nd SKE Danube Upper Austria Open in Mauthausen (Challenger 100, 118,000 euros, sand), final: Medjedovic (SRB) – Misolic (Ö/5) 6: 2, 6: 7 (5), 6: 4. Semi-finals: Misolic – Ofner (Ö/6) 7: 6 (1), 6: 4, Medjedovic (Srb) – Thiem (Ö/1) 7: 6 (3), 6: 2. Doubles final: Weissborn/Arneodo (Ö/Mon/1) – Frantzen/Jebens (D) 6: 4, 6: 2.