Anniversary edition of the “Upper Austria Ladies Linz” as a ray of hope in turbulent times
It should have been a lavish anniversary tournament week - with a colorful show program, tombola, attractive side events, a dazzling players party, with prominent guests from sports, culture and politics and thousands of enthusiastic tennis fans. If it weren't for a spoilsport named Corona. Fortunately, there are fighters like Sandra Reichel.
by PM / red.
last edit: Nov 05, 2020, 04:30 pm
True to her motto in life, “There is no such thing as impossible”, Sandra Reichel and her MatchMaker team are organizing the anniversary tournament “30 Years of Upper Austria Ladies Linz”. The “lockdown” decreed by the federal government has an impact insofar as the Linz women's tennis classic from 7th to 15th November 2020 in the Linz TipsArena cannot take place with 1,000 spectators as planned, but without anniversary guests.
“The strong signal is that our anniversary tournament can take place! And the tennis world will look to Upper Austria! We knew from the start that this year would be a special challenge and have prepared ourselves for all eventualities. Playing a tournament without spectators was always the variant that we pushed the furthest away. But we have also prepared for it, ”said Sandra Reichel on Thursday at the opening press conference of the anniversary tournament in the TipsArena, which was also attended by Markus Achleitner, Regional Councilor for Economic Affairs and Sports, and local hero Barbara Haas. "We Upper Austrians stick together and ensure that sports fans have confidence and positive moments in difficult times," emphasizes Sandra Reichel, who is also celebrating her personal anniversary at the "30s" of the WTA tournament: the former professional player is as Tournament director in action in Linz.
"Protection of players, officials and employees is the top priority"
The Covid-19 measures decreed by the federal government allow professional sports events to be held in closed rooms with a maximum number of 100 participants plus trainers, supervisors and people who are necessary for the implementation of the event.
“We have developed a concept at the highest security level. The motto this year is 'Safety First': The protection of the players, the officials and our employees is paramount ”, says Sandra Reichel, who is already looking forward to spectacular TV pictures from the“ 30 years Upper Austria Ladies Linz ”anniversary . This year, the entry list will be headed by Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, eleventh in the world rankings.
LR Achleitner: Linz 2020 important signal for sport
“The Upper Austria Ladies 2020 will certainly remain in special memories: The anniversary tournament - after all, the second oldest indoor tournament on the WTA calendar - will once again have a top-class field of participants in its 30th edition and offer world-class tennis for women. The anniversary tournament also challenges tournament director Sandra Reichel and her team in times of Corona. Everything is done to make a top tournament possible while adhering to all preventive and protective measures. It is a shame that no spectators are allowed to attend this anniversary. Because this special tournament lives from the enthusiasm, the emotion and the motivation of the thousands of fans, for example when I think of last year's win of 'Coco' Gauff or the positive words of premiere winner Manuela Maleeva in her greeting video . Even if we can't cheer on the top players live in the Tips Arena, we will be able to experience great women's tennis via TV and social media - and then hopefully in person in 2021 we will celebrate the “Upper Austria Ladies 30plus 1” together, "says Wirtschafts- and Sports Councilor Markus Achleitner.
“The Upper Austria Ladies is an important signal for sport as a whole in these difficult times that sporting events are possible even under these challenges. Hence a big thank you to Sandra Reichel for organizing the tournament despite all the difficult circumstances. We are very pleased that the tennis world has been looking to Upper Austria for this tournament for 30 years, which always delights countless top players with warmth, emotions, hospitality and professionalism. I not only wish the Upper Austria Ladies all the best on their 30th anniversary, but I very much hope that this year too it will be a great tournament under special circumstances, and above all that it will also be for many top players in the next few years 'Game, set and win' will be the name of the game in Upper Austria, ”explains Economic and Sports Councilor Achleitner.
The television partners of the second-oldest WTA indoor tournament in the world this year are ORF Sport + and Eurosport. "The tennis world will be there live in Linz even in Corona times", says the tournament director, who expects a lot of media attention from the last WTA tournament of the year worldwide.
The tournament director's partners and sponsors are also in good spirits. “The Upper Austria Ladies Linz is a tournament with a long tradition: for 30 years now it has been one of the absolute highlights in the domestic sports calendar. As a long-term partner, the Raiffeisen Banking Group Upper Austria is delighted that the anniversary tournament can take place despite the currently difficult circumstances, ”says Heinrich Schaller, General Director of Raiffeisenlandesbank Upper Austria.
Sandra Reichel highlights the grown, great partnerships that the Upper Austria Ladies Linz can count on even in this difficult year. "The fact that we can rely on our loyal partners again this year gives a lot of confidence and value to the whole thing," says the tournament director. She explicitly mentions the state of Upper Austria, the city of Linz, Linz AG, the Porsche Center Linz-Leonding, bet-at-home and the Raiffeisenlandesbank Upper Austria.
Babsi Haas: "It's great that the only WTA tournament currently being played in Linz"
Sandra Reichel gave two ÖTV players a wildcard. Barbara Haas for the main field and Mira Antonitsch for the qualification! Barbara Haas, number 146 in the tennis world, has prepared intensively for her home tournament with her trainer Jürgen Waber. “It's great that the only WTA tournament in the world is currently being played here in Linz. I am very grateful that I got the chance again to be in the main draw thanks to a wildcard, "says Haas, who is not allowed to be at home in her Linz apartment during the anniversary tournament" 30 Years Upper Austria Ladies Linz ", but two Kilometers away in the player's hotel. True to the motto "safety first". "It's a shame that no viewers are allowed, but I'm sure that my fans at home will keep their fingers crossed for me in front of the TV screen," said the local hero. "I now had an intensive, good training phase and I am happy that the competition is starting again."
As a reminder: Babsi Haas experienced a high feeling in the double competition in 2019 - Haas and her Swiss partner Xenia Knoll had reached the final to the cheers of many fans. "For me it was my best Linz moment so far", says Haas. Against the US-Americans Cori "Coco" Gauff / Catherine McNally Haas / Knoll had 7: 6 (5) 1: 6, 11: 9 in the semifinals In the final, the top seeded Czechs Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina Siniakova lost 4-6, 3-6 after good resistance. The Haas / Knoll duo also competed in the anniversary tournament "30 Years Upper Austria Ladies Linz" Side, thanks to a wildcard from the tournament director.
The draw will take place on the Center Court on Sunday (November 8th, 2020), not before 1.30 p.m.