The 18-year-old from Vorarlberg lost his ATP Tour debut on Monday at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel after 1 hour and 55 minutes against the Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild with 2:6, 6:7(6), but he showed his potential again. Against the world number 72, the ATP 392nd actually looked like the stronger player in the second set.
“Yes, the second set was very, very good. In the first set he was two classes better, then in the second I had a lot of chances, but in the important moments he simply played better,” was the rather hardened analysis of the youngster, who has had a very experienced coach at his side for several years in the form of ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer.
“There was definitely some nervousness”
After just eight minutes, the score was already 0:3 from Schwärzler’s perspective in front of over 3,000 spectators. “I was certainly nervous, but not so much that I couldn’t play,” the left-hander said, not wanting to use this as an excuse. Nevertheless, the first set was quickly over.
The opening game of the second set lasted around 20 minutes, during which Schwärzler was unable to capitalize on five of the nine break points in the second set. He was dominant on serve in the second set and so it went into a tiebreak. In this, the young Vorarlberg player had to bow 6:8 after a match point was spectacularly saved along the line.
“It pushed me”
Schwärzler was in a good mood in the second round. He hasn’t heard “Joel, Joel” chants very often in his young career. “It gave me a boost and was definitely a lot of fun. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. I’d rather still be on the pitch.”
Schwärzler, who won the title in Skopje this year in his first year at ATP Challenger level, is considered the great up-and-coming talent in domestic tennis. The expectations of the local fans are particularly high at the tournament in which Dominic Thiem will play his last clay court tournament.
Schwärzler has completed several training sessions with Thiem in the past few days. “I really like him as a person, training with him is a lot of fun. I can learn a lot from him. The training sessions were good and definitely one of the reasons why I was able to play at a good level here,” said the 18-year-old.
“He is at the very beginning of what will hopefully be a wonderful journey”
Thiem had already spoken about Schwärzler and the mutual sympathy is obvious. “First of all, I like him very much. That is very important for me personally, even more important than any big results. We had two really intensive training sessions. They were really good,” said Thiem. He wishes him all the best. “But I don’t want to say anything because I don’t want to put any pressure on him. He is at the very beginning of what will hopefully be a wonderful journey.”
Thiem’s journey will end in Vienna, and then Schwärzler will be even more in the spotlight. He knows that himself. “It’s a shame because the last few years haven’t gone the way he wanted. But he’s still had an incredible career. For me it’s a shame that I might not be able to play against him anymore.”
Schwärzler, who is in the Gamsstadt thanks to a wildcard, is still in the tournament. He is playing doubles alongside doubles specialist Philipp Oswald, who is retiring from professional tennis in Kitzbühel, alongside one of his former idols. Schwärzler later said that he used to look up to Oswald because he played at the same academy in Vorarlberg as his close compatriot.
He was asked where he sees himself in Kitzbühel in 2025. “Hopefully in this chair again, but as a winner,” he said with a smile. Schwärzler’s next singles appearance is at the end of July at the ATP Challenger in Liberec.
