A visit to the Old Cathedral does not guarantee victory

“Hopefully everything goes smoothly – without any unpleasant surprises,” says Peter Michael Reichel, the founder of Upper Austria Ladies, which is celebrating its 33rd edition in Linz. The skepticism of the 71-year-old Welser, who sits on the board of directors of the WTA women’s tennis players’ association, is not unfounded. He has experienced so much in his long career. This also includes disappointments when trying to attract one or two top stars to Upper Austria.

“Naomi Osaka was certainly our preferred candidate, we asked, unfortunately it didn’t work out. The date immediately after the Australian Open and before the Arabia tour is certainly not ideal, but it was a condition for the upgrade (category 500, note. ).

The Italian Camila Giorgi, who was slightly ill in health, lost to the Danish qualifier Clara Tauson 6:3, 3:6, 3:6. “I had a good start and a disappointing end,” said the 32-year-old world number 68.

The hoped-for support from above did not materialize. Giorgi visited the Old Cathedral together with defending champion Anastassija Potapova (Rus) and got up close and personal with the brand new trophy from Swarovski (60 centimeters high, weighing 3.5 kilos, decorated with a tennis ball made of 8100 gold-colored stones) under the Bruckner organ hand-set crystals). But the pretty trophy will no longer be within reach for Giorgi this year; this opportunity has been lost.

Even if there is no match scheduled, no one will be bored at the second oldest women’s indoor event in the world. Tournament director Sandra Reichel and her team are responsible for a varied program: “The feel-good factor is at the top of our list.” Donna Vekic, Ekaterina Alexandrowa and Sinja Kraus made a detour to “backaldrin” in Asten and conjured up one or two Kornspitz from the oven.