Linz is a "happy place" for Anna-Lena Friedsam! She reached the final here in 2015 and wants to do it again eight years later. "I feel very good, I was out for two years after my shoulder injury. It just takes time to get back to this level of play. I'm on a very good path and I'm excited to see what the future holds," said Friedsam after her victory. She is using her stay in Linz for all kinds of activities. "Yes, I've finally made it to the Danube, I really like the cathedral and I've been to a sausage meeting with my boyfriend," revealed Friedsam, who also feels very much at home in the Design Centre. "As a German, I get great support from the fans." 

Friedsam said of her quarter-final match against 21-year-old Anastasia Potapova: "A strong opponent. She moves very well, so I have to really bring my power tennis to the court. It will be an open exchange of blows."
 
On the "Keine Sorgen Tag powered by Oberösterreichische Versicherung AG", a German double triumph was even in the offing. Eva Lys was in action on centre court at the same time as Friedsam. And the 21-year-old from Hamburg, who has been advised by Tournament Director Sandra Reichel since summer 2021, was already 3:1 ahead in the third set against Dalma Galfi from Hungary. But then the flow of the match broke for Germany's newcomer - Eva Lys lost 4:6, 6:3, 3:6. 
 
Friday's quarter-final clash will be between the number one of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz, Maria Sakkari, and the number five seed Donna Vekic. The Australian Open quarter-finalist won her round of 16 match against Madison Brengle, the conqueror of Julia Grabher, 6:3, 6:1 on Thursday afternoon. The 26-year-old reported: "Maria is definitely one of my best friends. We trained together here on Monday and ended up having a tibreak - we had a bet on dinner and I lost. Now I want revenge!" Vekic leads 5:2 in the head-to-head comparison between the two friends.

By her own admission, Vekic is playing in Linz "for at least the seventh time": "Sandra Reichel and 'Babsi' Schett ensure an absolute feel-good factor here, and I'm delighted that my level of play here this year matches my 'Level of Happiness'." Vekic has a small fan base with her: "My whole family is here, even my dog Mali has travelled here, he will certainly make an appearance on the tournament course."