ATP Challenger Prague: Small Austrian championships in the golden city
Apart from Dominic Thiem, Gerald Melzer and Philipp Oswald, everything that is of rank and repute in Austrian men's tennis is taking part in the clay court challenger in Prague.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit: Apr 18, 2022, 10:46 am
From a historical point of view, the Czech capital Prague has a very close relationship with Austria - not only, but especially from the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The tennis ties between the two countries should also not be underestimated - after all, Vienna and the golden city are less than a four-hour drive away from each other. From an Austrian point of view, tournaments in Prague are traditionally well attended, as long as they do not overlap with events at home or in Germany (e.g. the 250s in Munich).
This year, two clay court challenger tournaments will take place in the Bohemian metropolis, the first of which will be held next week on the tennis courts of TK Sparta Praha, not far from the Prague Zoo and the famous Hradcany Castle. Incidentally, a WTA Tour 250 tournament has also been held there every year since 2015 - albeit on a hard court.
A total of five Austrians
A total of five top Austrian players have made the journey to the city of 1.3 million: Dennis Novak, Jurij Rodionov, Sebastian Ofner, Lucas Miedler and Alexander Erler. The latter failed in the first qualifying round against the German Sebastian Fanselow with 1:6, 5:7. However, the Tyrolean is still in action in doubles, as usual alongside Lucas Miedler. The Lower Austrian is in the second round of the singles prelim after a 7:5,-7:6(3) win over Rudolf Molleker (also Germany) and can avenge his doubles partner there - he also meets Fanselow.
Set on three in a double grid, Erler / Miedler open against the Filipino-Indonesian duo Ruben Gonzalez / Christopher Rungkat. Novak goes into the pairs competition with the German Mats Moraing and meets local heroes Martin Krumich and Andrew Paulson in round one. Ranked fifth in singles, Novak starts with the Russian Evgeny Karlovskiy (ATP 279).
Rodionov caught unpleasant opening task
Rodionov made an uncomfortable first-round draw with Dutchman Robin Haase (ATP 293). Even if the two-time Kitzbühel champion has already seen his best days, he is always a dangerous opponent with his aggressive game. In his third tournament after a seven-month injury break, Ofner will face the Frenchman Constant Lestienne (ATP 186). If Rodionov and Ofner were successful, there would be an Austrian duel in round two.