Vienna Padel Open: Lots of local color in Vienna
The Vienna Padel Open 2023 (May 20th to 28th) will be a big padel show with concentrated Austrian power!
by p.m
last edit: May 08, 2023, 07:15 pm
The wildcards for the WPT tournament in the Steffl Arena were fixed today, Monday, and one thing is certain: in addition to the international superstars, red-white-red will also be represented several times. A second wildcard was even organized for the men's main competition, with a total of seven Austrian pairings competing - former ÖFB captain Marc Janko is also at the start.
The first two wildcards for the main competition for women and men were awarded for sport. In the "CUPRA Road to Vienna Padel Open" tournament series, around 700 players fought for starting places in the main draw of the Vienna Padel Open, with the final Masters tournament in the PADELZONE Steffl Arena making the decision. In the men's competition, Rainhard Boisitis and Kristopher Sotiriu asserted themselves confidently and secured the wild card for the men's main competition.
Sure thing in the final
The two Lower Austrians played their way into the final without losing a set, where the eagerly awaited duel between Christoph Krenn and David Alten took place. In this Boisits/Sotiriu kept the upper hand with 6:3, 6:1 and secured the fixed ticket for the Vienna Padel Open. "It's indescribable, we were fully focused and did our thing. We didn't expect the final to end so clearly," said Boisits, for whom at the age of 38 it is the absolute highlight of his career. He came to padel a few years ago and has been training intensively for three years.
“Being in the main competition of the Vienna Padel Open is the greatest thing. It will be exciting to compete against the best in the world – of course you want to know how far away you actually are.”
In the women's category, Rebeca Fernandez Niederacher and Dawn Foxhall made it to the final in a hurry, beating Barbara Prenner/Anna Schmid 7:5, 6:4. The two already played in the qualification last year and wrote history with the first Austrian women's victory on the World Padel Tour. This year they are in the main competition. “To be on center court last year and even get a win was breathtaking. Immediately afterwards we said that we wanted to experience it again. Now we're actually playing in the main competition - just thinking about it gives us goosebumps," says Foxhall.
Additional wildcard for the main competition
There was more good news from Spain this Monday: After intensive discussions with the World Padel Tour, tournament director Dominik Beier received confirmation of a second wildcard for the men's main competition. This goes to the Masters final losers Krenn/Alten. "They have done a lot for padel sport in Austria in recent years, were already represented in the main competition last year and should have another chance to present themselves on the big stage. We are looking forward to numerous local heroes in the main competition,” reports Beier.
The plan is for Boisits/Sotiriu and Fernandez Niederacher/Foxhall to serve as Masters winners on Wednesday (May 24). They should ensure a full hall in red-white-red on Austria Day: fans who come to the Steffl Arena on this day with an Austria jersey will receive various goodies and gifts. Krenn/Alten are expected to play on the first day of the main competition (Tuesday, May 23rd). On this day, if you buy one ticket, you get a second one for free. Changes in the game schedule are possible at any time.
Janko plays in the qualification
A prominent name appears in the qualification (May 20th to 22nd): Tournament ambassador Marc Janko, currently in the top 35 of the Austrian padel rankings, received a wildcard for the qualification with partner Dominik Bierent. "Marc has been playing padel for years and is one of the best Austrian players. In his role as a tournament ambassador, he helps the Vienna Padel Open enormously. The qualifying wildcard is our way of saying 'thank you'”, said tournament director Beier.
In the women's category, a qualifying wildcard went to Anna Schmid/Barbara Prenner, who lost out in the Masters final for the wildcard for the main competition against Fernandez Niederacher/Foxhall. The other wildcards for qualification are awarded at tournaments. For the men, Michael Brus/Markus Krocker secured the tournament victory in Graz last weekend and thus the ticket for the qualification of the Vienna Padel Open, a qualification wildcard for the women is still open.
The qualification for the Vienna Padel Open in the Steffl Arena starts in twelve days (May 20th), admission is free. The main competition begins three days later (May 23).