Generali board member Arno Schuchter: "I like to remember the old Davis Cup battles"
Generali Austria has been involved in tennis for years, and now the insurance company is also sponsoring the Austrian Davis Cup team. Arno Schuchter, Board Member for Sales and Marketing, explains the background in an interview with tennisnet.com.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 22, 2021, 12:01 pm
tennisnet : Mr. Schuchter. Generali Austria has long been deeply connected to various types of tennis. Where does this special relationship come from?
Arno Schuchter : As Generali Austria we have a long tennis tradition that began before the 2000s with the Generali Open in Kitzbühel. Then there was a short break, but we've been back as title sponsor in Kitzbühel for more than ten years. In addition, tennis in Austria, especially among men, has experienced a real boom in recent years. Through the success of Dominic Thiem , but also through good results in the Davis Cup. And of course the attitude of the people currently acting always plays a special role at Generali Austria. In addition, tennis is one of the few world sports. Our commitment results from the sum of these topics.
tennisnet : Where does your personal affinity go?
Schuchter : I played championships myself in the hobby area, also among the seniors. And my children are also active tennis players.
tennisnet : The connection with Kitzbühel is not only evident in the professional sector - with the Generali Race to Kitzbühel you are also supporting the largest hobby tennis event in Austria.
Schuchter : This is a project close to the heart of Generali Austria. We don't just want to promote tennis at the top. As an insurer, we are also very active in the health sector; with Generali Vitality we have a module where we want to encourage our customers, but also non-customers, to stay active and do sports. And for these activities, the Generali Race to Kitzbühel is an ideal companion, where we have ten to twelve tournaments across the whole of Austria. And the best then play their winners in Kitzbühel as part of the Generali Open.
tennisnet : Now a lockdown was prescribed for the entire population in Austria on Friday. What does the Generali Vitality Program offer to strengthen people's health even in these difficult times?
Schuchter : Our program is a driver. I know that from my own experience. You always have a virtual fist on your neck: “You haven't finished your training units today or this week.” In addition, there are small rewards for completing the tasks. In reality, for me personally, it is about knowing that I have done something. Maybe that's one of the positive sides of the lockdown: That people have a little more time to deal with health issues.
"Everything fits perfectly in Kitzbühel"
tennisnet : Back to the professionals. Also this year the tournament in Kitzbühel was a success with the players and especially with the audience. How great was the satisfaction at Generali Austria?
Schuchter : Kitzbühel has already shown twice that it is very well received by local fans even without a local hero, i.e. Dominic Thiem. Last year Dominic won the US Open at the same time, but unfortunately this year he was injured. Of course, the title run by Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler helped to lure one or two fans into the stadium. Basically, however, the tournament organizers with Markus Bodner and Herbert Günther and Alexander Antonitsch as tournament directors in Kitzbühel have managed to take a Challenger event to a highly professional level over the last ten or twelve years. And yet to be held in a family atmosphere. This is a connection that is only found in a few tournaments. Maybe it has something to do with the smallness of the city, the mountains, the state of Tyrol, the people involved - everything just fits perfectly here. Which also applies to the transport of our brand.
tennisnet : Unfortunately, the Davis Cup in Innsbruck will also be affected by the lockdown, which will take place without a spectator. How is your commitment to the Davis Cup?
Schuchter : We have been a partner of the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV) in various forms for years and this year, after the group games were awarded to Innsbruck, we decided that Generali Austria would be the team sponsor of our Davis Cup team for the first time. Also because the matches take place in Austria.
tennisnet : There is only one question left for tennis aficionado Arno Schuchter: The format of a final tournament, which has been introduced since 2019, has received little applause from many members of the tennis scene. How are you doing with that?
Schuchter : Here, sport has certainly bowed to money. That may be helpful at times. But this innovation did not do the Davis Cup format a huge favor. I'm not sure whether this format will prevail, as you saw at the 2019 final in Madrid. I like to think back to the old Davis Cup battles, for example Austria against the USA in the Prater Stadium or Austria against Germany in Unterpremstätten. Every tennis country has its own highlights, which no longer take place in this form.