Austrian championships: Sebastian Ofner and Sinja Kraus take titles
A favorite and a surprise victory at the Austrian championships in Oberpullendorf: Sebastian Ofner and Sinja Kraus were crowned champions on Saturday.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jul 03, 2021, 07:23 pm
The Styrian Ofner lived up to his role as favorite in the final against Max Neuchrist. Having entered the Austrian championships as number one, Sebastian Ofner snatched the prestigious title 6: 4 and 6: 4 and can look forward to 8,000 euros in prize money. In the coming week Ofner, who only failed in the third and last qualifying round at Wimbledon, is going to the USA.
"The switch from grass to sand wasn't easy, but I'm glad that I lived up to the role of top favorite. That really enhances this title for me," said Sebastian Ofner after winning the title. Ofner had to go over three sets both in the round of 16 (against Gerald Melzer) and in the semifinals (against Lukas Neumayer), in the final things were a little clearer for the Styrian.
Kraus beats Neuwirth
In the women's category, however, there was a premier winner this year. The only 19-year-old Sinja Kraus, seeded number three in the Austrian championships, gave final opponent Yvonne Neuwirth no chance and won the title 6: 4 and 6: 0. One of the reasons for the success: "I had a match plan that I implemented perfectly."
Even though this Kraus first had to remember again, when switching pages the 19-year-old looked up in a notebook: "It said what I had to do: stay focused and focused, wait for my chances."