Groß-Siegharts: 36th s Insurance Austrian Open starts in August!

Groß-Siegharts: 36th s Insurance Austrian Open starts in August!

The top international wheelchair tennis tournament, the s Versicherung Austrian Open, is about to enter its 36th edition and will take place from August 6th to 10th, 2025 in Groß-Siegharts, in the Waldviertel. The event is part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and is one of the richest tournaments of its kind in the world, with prize money of $33,000, an increase of $3,000 compared to last year. The tournament has been an integral part of the international wheelchair tennis scene since 1988 and is considered the largest stage for wheelchair tennis in Austria. Almost 60 athletes from 18 nations took part last year and this year too, numerous professionals from countries such as Japan, Australia, South Africa, the USA and Chile as well as local players such as Nico Langmann and Christina Pesendorfer are expected.

Michael Shelm, the chairman of Wheelchair Tennis Austria, emphasizes the importance of the tournament, especially as preparation for the Paralympics in Paris 2024. The competition range includes men's, women's and quad competitions, both in singles and doubles, with a grid size of up to 24 players in singles and 12 in doubles per category. The organization of the tournament is supported by around 170 volunteers as well as partners such as s Versicherung and the Sparkasse family.

Integration in wheelchair tennis

Developments in wheelchair tennis could gain additional momentum with the upcoming Paralympics in Paris in 2024. ITF President David Haggerty emphasizes the success of wheelchair tennis, especially at Grand Slam tournaments, and sees the opportunity to further advance integration of top sports. He plans to use the success of the Paris Games to create a platform for the next generation of wheelchair tennis players.

Alfie Hewett, 23-time Grand Slam winner and five-time Paralympic medalist, supports these initiatives and calls for integrated events in wheelchair tennis to be made the norm. He points out that the last men's finals at Wimbledon reached thousands in the stadium and millions of viewers at home. Hewett sees the new tour structures as an opportunity for players to advance their careers and would like to thank the ITF for their support in these developments.

The s Versicherung Austrian Open and the future tour structure could make a decisive contribution to further professionalizing wheelchair tennis and creating more visibility in the sport. The combination of these events and their influence on the athletes will have a lasting impact on wheelchair tennis in the coming years, raising the attractiveness of the sport to a new level.

For more information about the s Versicherung Austrian Open, visit the website Austrian Tennis Association. Detailed developments in the field of wheelchair tennis can be found on Tennis.com be tracked.