Celebrating 50 Years of the Erste Bank Open: A Cheeky Retrospective
Oh, tennis! That splendid game where men in tight shorts chase fuzzy green balls at high speed whilst we onlookers react with a cocktail of awe and confusion. October 27, 2024, heralds the 50th crowning of the ATP’s Erste Bank Open champion at the Wiener Stadthalle—a venue that’s hosted more memorable moments than a family reunion where the Wi-Fi password mysteriously changes.
The Austrians Who Made Us Proud (and Question Our Fitness)
Let’s take a jaunt down memory lane, shall we? It wasn’t until 1988 that we saw a local hero in the final—Horst Skoff against Thomas Muster, or as I like to call him, ‘The Man Who Can’t Stay on His Feet.’ Skoff approached the court fit, whilst Muster looked like he had just completed a marathon… entirely on foot. But lo and behold! Skoff ensured he won that day—4:6, 6:4, 6:4, and 6:2—against someone who looked like he tried to sprint but forgot where he was going. Ah, the drama!
Fast-forward to 2009, when Jürgen Melzer gave us a reason to believe in home-grown talent by overcoming Marin Cilic in a thrilling final. Not to mention our very own Dominic Thiem, who, in 2019, delicately buttered his friend Diego Schwartzman with a 6:3, 7:6, 6:2 victory—friendship can be a real challenge when a trophy’s on the line.
A Hall of Fame of Champions: The Not-So-Secret Society of Tennis Legends
This tournament has seen its fair share of legends strut across the Wiener Stadthalle like peacocks showing off their feathers. From Stan Smith, who won an impressive two titles in ’78 and ’79, to Ivan Lendl—who, let’s be honest, had more facial expressions than a bad soap opera. But who could forget Andre Agassi, the ‘hair’ apparent who defeated Michael Stich in 1994? What a match! Agassi served him up some serious ace, just like the mullet he sported back in the day.
Then there’s Boris Becker, who in 1996 needed no more than a couple of cocky serves to leave the competition gasping for air, and of course, Roger Federer, who lifted the trophy in 2002 and 2003 with ease. Because if anyone knows how to turn tennis into a graceful ballet, it’s Roger—bless him!
The Unforgettable Finale: Gilbert versus Novacek
Now, let’s discuss a truly memorable encounter. Picture this: the 1986 final between Brad Gilbert and Karel Novacek. Gilbert himself later delighted us with a book titled Winning Ugly, giving us a masterclass on how to lose gracefully while making it look like an episode of So You Think You Can Dance. In that final, Novacek looked as if he was ready to offer Gilbert resuscitation halfway through, which makes this match less a tennis bout and more a comedy skit. In the end, Gilbert snagged the title, leaving Novacek to ponder how hard it is to maintain one’s dignity while tripping over one’s own feet.
On October 27, 2024, the 50th champion of the legendary ATP tournament will be crowned in the Wiener Stadthalle. Tennisnet looks back at some of the most notable winners in the history of the Erste Bank Open.
by Jens Huiber
last edited: October 15, 2024, 6:20 p.m
© GEPA Pictures
Two legends in their early phase: Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka in Vienna in 2007
The Erste Bank Open is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. And even though there were numerous spectacular matches during the week, in the end it is the finals that stay in the memories of tennis fans for the longest time. We picked out a few…
The Austrian triumphs: Skoff, Melzer, Thiem
It took a while until the first local hero was able to reach the final in the Wiener Stadthalle. And then in 1988 there was a double blow: Horst Skoff against Thomas Muster. The latter, however, did not drag himself onto the court fit, Skoff won 4:6, 6:4, 6:4 and 6:2. The Carinthian would get one more attempt in a final (1990 against Anders Jarryd), Muster even two more. But the Styrian lost those too: in 1993 against Goran Ivanisevic and in 1995 against Filip Dewulf.
So it was up to Jürgen Melzer, who won the title in the 2009 final against Marin Cilic and a year later against compatriot Andreas Haider-Maurer after a dramatic match 6:7 (1), 7:6 (4) and 6:4. The last domestic title holder to date was Dominic Thiem, who defeated his friend Diego Schwartzman in three sets in 2019.
© GEPA Pictures
In 2010, Andreas Haider-Maurer demanded everything from champion Jürgen Melzer in the final
Legends as champions in the town hall: Smith, Lendl, Stich, Agassi, Becker, Sampras, Federer, Murray
A comprehensive list, indeed. But let’s start with Stan Smith (champion in Vienna in 1978 and 1979), then work our way through Ivan Lendl (1981 in the final against record champion Brian Gottfried) to Michel Stich (1991 – he also won at Wimbledon. And in Vienna Jan Siemerink). Andre Agassi defeated Michael Stich in the 1994 final 7:6 (3), 4:6, 6:2 and 6:3, and in 1996 Boris Becker won the title in Vienna. Jan Siemerink was once again the victim of a German superstar. The great Pete Sampras thrilled the Viennese with his title in 1998 with a comfortable win against Karol Kucera (six years after he struck in Kitzbühel), and in 2002 and 2003 the young Roger Federer had his hand on the trophy.
In 2007 it was Novak Djokovic’s turn – with a smooth final win against Stan Wawrinka. Fast forward to 2014, where Andy Murray won his first title in Vienna, then two years later his second.
Also on the list of winners: Tommy Haas (twice – and once, of course, also against a Dutchman: 2013 against Robin Haase), Tim Henman (2000 final winner against Haas), Juan Martin del Potro 2012. And the last three editions are to Alexander Zverev (in the 2021 final against Frances Tiafoe), Daniil Medvedev, who won against Denis Shapovalov 4:6, 6:3 and 6:2 in 2022, and Jannik Sinner, who defeated Medvedev almost twelve months ago 7:6 (7 ), 4:6 and 6:3, gone.
The finale of the book: Brad Gilbert versus Karel Novacek
“Winning Ugly” was released in 1993. And basically, in this book, Brad Gilbert just retold the story of his 3:6, 6:3, 7:5 and 6:0 defeat of Karel Novacek in the 1986 final. What didn’t André Agassi’s later coach conjure up on the floor: hobbles, facial expressions distorted by pain – the poor sports comrade Novacek was probably prepared for the fact that he would immediately have to initiate resuscitative measures on his opponent. Of course that wasn’t the case. Rather, the Czech lost his nerve. And Gilbert didn’t just have the winner’s cup in Vienna. But also the common thread for his later bestseller.
