ATP Challenger Tulln: Neil Oberleitner surprised in the qualification
In dream weather, the start of the ATP Challenger tournament was impressively successful on the perfectly prepared facility of the TC Tulln. And that with an Austrian surprise victory.
by PM
last edit: Sep 05, 2021, 09:15 pm
The first round of qualification for the ATP 100 tournament is history - and the first tennis headlines from Tulln were made by Austrian Neil Oberleitner , who is the lowest in the ATP ranking. As number 1304 in the world, the 22-year-old from Vienna, who was given a wildcard, kicked the two years younger but 935 better ranked number 1 in the qualifying ranking, the German Rudolf Molleker , with 6/2 7/5 from the competition. Oberleitner will now play on Monday morning from 10 a.m. on the center court against Argentina's Gonzalo Villanueva for entry into the 32-man individual main field. On the other hand, Lenny Hampel, Lukas Krainer and David Pichler had to retire without winning a set.
The Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler will open the main competition against Damir Dzumhur (BIH) at 11.30 a.m. at the earliest. Immediately afterwards, the Innsbruck wildcard player Alexander Erler intervenes and faces the two-time ATP title holder and former world number 26, Lukas Rosol (36) from the Czech Republic.
Lucas Miedler from Tulln (ATP No. 315) and one of his best friends on the ATP tour are not allowed to go on the field before 4.30 p.m. Against the almost two meter tall, extremely strong German Mats Moraing (29, ATP number 242), the 25-year-old Miedler wants to prove his skills in front of as many Lower Austrian compatriots and friends as possible.