2023-09-11 01:59:52
Austria’s well-rehearsed Billie Jean King Cup duo narrowly missed out on the biggest double title of their careers in Vienna.
The Alpstar Ladies Open Vienna was held from September 4th to 10th, 2023 at the UTC La Ville facility in Vienna. The individual final on Sunday was won by Croatian Tena Lukas (WTA 252), last year’s finalist and winner in 2019, once morest seventh-seeded Romanian Miriam Bianca Bulgaru (WTA 219) 7:5, 6:1. The double final of the ITF W60 event took place late on Saturday followingnoon. The Romanian-Polish duo Irina Bara (WTA doubles 151) and Weronika Falkowska (WTA doubles 83) won 6:3, 2:6 and 13:11 in the match tiebreak once morest Melanie Klaffner (WTA doubles 418) and Sinja Kraus (WTA doubles 429), who missed four match points in the decision and thus missed out on the biggest doubles title in their careers to date. “We had our chances, but we didn’t play courageously enough in the crucial moments,” said Kraus, who was the best Austrian in the singles and was eliminated in the quarterfinals once morest Lukas.
Experiment successful
Organizer Raimund Stefanits took stock before the individual final: “For us, the $60,000 tournament was an experiment. We wanted to find out whether we might organize and financially manage an event of this magnitude. The experiment was successful – it was a great event; we had a lot of spectators; great tennis was offered. An increase in the level of previous years was clearly visible.”
A decision regarding the future will be made at the end of October
Stefanits continued: “We have high expectations of ourselves. La Ville has proven that the infrastructure for such an event is there. For us it was the right decision to expand the tournament once more. We have overcome all hurdles and met all requirements. We have provided an extensive supporting program – a tournament for people with special needs, a ProAm tournament with Hans Kary, Helge Payer and others. Also the players’ and sponsors’ party with live music.” Regarding the financing, Stefanits explained: “Thanks to our cooperation partners Alpstar, Sportunion, ÖTV and WTV, the tournament was a great success. We will know by the end of October whether we will be able to create the financial framework for a $60,000 tournament in the future.”
Grabher’s loss hurts
The only drawback for Stefanits was the performance of the Austrians: “Julia Grabher – our driving force – unfortunately dropped out. An Austrian tournament victory or at least an Austrian woman in the final would of course have been a great thing. The level was really very strong – the difference compared to previous years was clearly visible. The spectators were fascinated by the level. But when an Austrian is there, the tension is of course much greater. A tournament depends on the local heroes. In doubles we had two Austrians in the final, Melanie Klaffner and Sinja Kraus. Unfortunately, despite having match points in the match tiebreak, it didn’t work out to win the tournament.”
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