There was a very special highlight on centre court before the evening match! The media partner of the WTA tournament, Oberösterreichische Nachrichten, honoured the winners of its 2021 Sportsperson of the Year award. Discus thrower Lukas Weißhaidinger, who won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, was voted Upper Austria's "Sportsman of the Year". The "Sportswoman of the Year", karate fighter Bettina Plank, also returned from Tokyo with an Olympic bronze medal. The Steelvolleys ASKÖ Linz Steg, Austrian state champions and cup winners in volleyball, took first place in the "Team of the Year" vote. The most prominent well-wishers were Governor Thomas Stelzer and Provincial Councillor for Economics and Sport Markus Achleitner.