02 February 2025
Inside Out
Endgame!
The duel of the power women?
There's only one gas today - full throttle! In the final of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2025, a duel between Dayana Yastremska and Ekaterina Alexandrova awaits us between two real power women.
It is already clear that one of the two players will be the winner of the only WTA 500 indoor tournament in Europe for the first time. Ekaterina Alexandrova is hoping that all good things come in threes for her. After losing to Camila Giorgi from Italy (in 2018, she stormed into her first WTA final after qualifying) and last year against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, she will be playing her third final at her "home match" on Sunday.
It's only a stone's throw to her home in Prague for Alexandrova, she doesn't need much time to get used to the Design Centre and plays her best tennis straight away. In the semi-final against top seed Karolina Muchova, she found the perfect combination of a strong serve and powerful baseline tennis. She dominated the Czech in her fifth Linz semi-final, especially in the first set, and also showed nerves of steel in the second. "I'm obviously very happy to be back in the final here. It was a great match from me. I just hope that all good things come in threes for me on Sunday. I'll just stick to my routines and do everything as I always do," said Alexandrova in the winner's interview with Barbara Schett after the match.
The basis for Alexandrova's success was not only her strong performance on serve, but above all her flat and direct baseline game. She hit 26 winners against Muchova, three times as many as her opponent. But that's nothing against Dayana Yastremska. The 24-year-old, who wants to become the first Ukrainian to win the title in Linz, won a whopping 40 straight points against Clara Tauson and didn't lose a single set on her way to her first final in three years. "I have no real explanation as to why things are going so well this week. I actually have the feeling that I can play this tennis every week. But it just hasn't worked out recently," said the 2024 Australian Open semi-finalist, who will do everything she can to recover perfectly in the hours leading up to the final. In the second set against Clara Tauson, she had to undergo treatment for an injury to her left thigh.
"It wasn't easy to stay positive in this situation," said Yastremska, who will certainly not lose a single ball today as she aims to win a WTA tournament for the first time in six years. The Ukrainian Billie Jean King Cup player is perfectly trained, a tireless fighter and not afraid to take risks. Whoever brings the best combination of a balanced but also courageous game to the court today will take home the unique Swarovski Cup, 500 world ranking points and prize money of 147,765 US dollars. In this spirit: The time has come! Let the finale begin!
Match of the Day
Dayana
Yastremska
Age: 24
Born in: Odessa, Ukraine
World ranking position: 72
Greatest success: Australian Open 2024 semi-final
Ekaterina
Alexandrova
Age: 30
Born in: Chelyabinsk, Russia
World ranking position: 30
Greatest success: Wimbledon round of 16 finalist 2023
Balance sheet
3 : 2
Tip from the editors
40 : 60
Expert
Barbara Schett
Tournament ambassador Barbara Schett is THE expert when it comes to the tennis players at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. "Babsi" takes a look behind the scenes for us.
Dayana Yastremska vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova
"I believe that Dayana Yastremska will prevail in the final. She has a bit more power than Alexandrova. She's playing really well at the moment and doesn't make many mistakes despite her fast pace."
Match Highlights
Alexandrova
vs.
Muchova
Quotes
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Family Day of Oberösterreichische Versicherung
Best Of
There was a lot going on! At yesterday's Family Day organised by Oberösterreichische Versicherung, mascot "Ele" created a great atmosphere in the hall.
Servus,
Melanie Klaffner
A circle closes in Linz
15 ITF singles titles, 26 ITF doubles titles and 1250 professional matches, including numerous matches for Austria in the Billie Jean King Cup (previously Fed Cup): Melanie Klaffner has experienced a lot in her 20-year professional career. On Saturday, the 34-year-old, who recently ended her career, was bid farewell on the centre court of the Design Center. Tournament director Sandra Reichel and tournament ambassador Barbara Schett took over the honours. Linz is a very special place for Klaffner. "Being honoured here means a lot to me. My career started here 20 years ago. It has now come full circle," said the Austrian, who played her first match on the WTA Tour in the city on the Danube in 2004. Eleven more appearances in Linz were to follow. In the near future, Klaffner's focus will now be on working as a policewoman, but she also plans to train as a coach. We wish you all the best for the future, Melanie!
Highlight
Organic gardener Karl Ploberger
Almost everyone in Austria knows him! Organic gardener Karl Ploberger was a guest at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz yesterday together with Toni Klein (co-author of his new book "Garten fit - Körper fit"). Between the semi-final matches, the two got the spectators in the right mood with fitness exercises.
Inclusion
Wheelchair tennis
Wheelchair tennis has been part of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz for years! Christina Pesendorfer and Nico Langmann, the respective number one in wheelchair tennis in Austria, were guests at the WTA 500 tournament yesterday and presented the fans with a very special and entertaining show match on centre court. The inclusion event was once again supported this year by Volkshilfe Oberösterreich. Jasmine Chansri MBA, Managing Director of Volkshilfe Oberösterreich, emphasised the importance of the cooperation and the annual inclusion event in breaking down barriers.
Afterwards, interested parties with and without disabilities were able to try out wheelchair tennis - under the expert guidance of Christina Pesendorfer and Nico Langmann, of course.
DOUBLE
Ukrainian "double victory" possible
This will be the crowning finale of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz! Immediately after the singles final, there will be "double trouble" on centre court. In the doubles final, the Ukrainian twin sisters Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok and Timea Babos (Hungary)/Luisa Stefani (Brazil) will face each other. The duo defeated the top-seeded combination of Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)/Zhang Shuai (China) 6:3, 4:6, 10:7 in the semi-finals on Saturday. Siniakova won her tenth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in Melbourne last week and was also competing in the singles in Linz. The favourites were initially 5:2 ahead in the match tie-break, before Babos/Stefani started the final spurt and won eight of the last ten points. Together with Dayana Yastremska, the Kichenoks could now ensure a Ukrainian "doubles victory" in Linz in the truest sense of the word.
Upper Austrian News
Perfectly informed
Already discovered it? In the Public Village of the WTA 500 tournament, current issues of the OÖ Nachrichten can be picked up free of charge. There is also a special supplement on Austria's most important women's sporting event. So everyone is perfectly informed about the Upper Austria Ladies Linz and the entire region!
Our voices
AT THE CENTRE COURT
Best entertainment! With Barbara Haas (former tennis player), ORF presenter Karina Toth and Sky commentator Marcel Meinert, three presenters will ensure the best atmosphere at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz this year! Great to have you with us.
Hillinger
Tasteful
Grandiose flavour! As the official wine and secco partner of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz, the Leo Hillinger winery has a large selection of special drinks on offer.
Quotes
Dayana Yastremska
Summer holiday in Upper Austria
Those who recharge their batteries also find peace and quiet
Upper Austria's impressive landscape is an endless treasure trove of summer experiences, a boundless adventure playground for outdoor enthusiasts. If you like getting on your bike or mountain bike, Upper Austria is the place for you. Whether you prefer a leisurely ride along lakes and rivers or a sporty ride with challenging climbs to the most beautiful mountain pastures. Sports enthusiasts are in the thick of it in Upper Austria instead of just being there. Either take part in the Linz Marathon on 13 April and the legendary Salzkammergut Mountain Bike Trophy on 12 July. Or experience top performances as a spectator at the Upper Austrian stage of the Tour of Austria from 8 to 13 July in Steyr. Real experiences await in Upper Austria.
Match Highlights
Tauson
vs.
Yastremska
Upper Austria is blossoming!
Cool sustainability initiative! The Upper Austrian insurance company covers the cost of 1 m² of seed for every ace that is beaten.
301
Presented by
Supporting programme
02 February 2025
Today on the plant
- from 10.30 a.m.: "1,000 tennis rackets for 1,000 girls"
- 11.00 - 15.00: Children's programme from ASKÖ OÖ
- 12.00 pm: OÖTV Presidents Cocktail
DAILY ACTIONS:
Tennis ball box action: Bring your used tennis balls to the Upper Austria Ladies Linz and secure goodies - together in the spirit of sustainability!
Pensioners' action: Free coffee & cake for every pensioner
4+1 Best-Friend: If you book a best friend package, you will receive a bottle of Secco Rosé "Pink Ribbon" Leo Hillinger or a glass of beer for each person - voucher issue
ORF Radio Upper Austria: Happy hour for kids at the ORF Radio Oberösterreich wheel of fortune
The tournament on TV
Live there!
The broadcast times at a glance:
Sunday, 02 February 2025
from 14.00 (ORF ON)
from 2.30 pm (ORF Sport Plus)
*Programme subject to change
Program booklet
Have you read it yet?
Would you like to find out more about the Upper Austria Ladies Linz and expand your knowledge of the tournament's top stars and young hopefuls? Then pick up a free copy at the Info Point! Click on the button to access the online version of our programme.
Results
Order of play
Our Partners
