She has been eagerly awaiting her first serve at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2024 for a long time - it finally starts today! Linz regular Donna Vekic starts the tournament against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska. The clash between two top 35 players is the "key match" of today's tournament Thursday.
Sandra Reichel and Donna Vekic
Last year, Donna Vekic achieved her best result to date on her sixth visit to Linz by reaching the quarter-finals on the Danube. Back then, she was only narrowly beaten by the tournament's number one at the time, Maria Sakkari. Will she go at least one step further this year and perhaps even play for the tournament title? Vekic reached her last final last June when she reached the final on her favourite surface, grass, in Berlin. The fact that she travelled to Linz at the weekend and has now had several days to train shows that she has a lot planned for the week in Linz. In between, there was also a trip to her tournament partner Backaldrin, where this time it wasn't a question of the right mix of her shots, but of the ingredients in the Kornspitz baking.
Dayana Yastremska
Yesterday, the focus was on preparing for her debut match. This included watching her opponent Dayana Yastremska, who had to shed a lot of sweat. The Ukrainian, who is an Australian Open semi-finalist, only won her opening match against Erika Andreeva after 2:20 hours - and then had to orientate herself a little. "What time is it actually?" the 23-year-old asked presenter Karina Toth after converting her match point. And for good reason: in Australia, it was just after 2 o'clock in the morning when the match ended.
"Only now do I understand it all. Every day since I arrived here, I've wanted to go to bed around 3 or 4 pm. I'm still on Australian time. But at the end of the day, I'm very happy that I somehow managed to win. It was my very first victory here in Linz and that makes me really happy," summarised Yastremska after an exhausting start.
But when you win, you're happy to take the strain. And so Yastremska wants to prove her good form (11:2 wins since the start of the new year) today - especially as she still has a small score to settle. Although she leads the head-to-head against the Croatian 3:2, she has lost her last two matches against Vekic.
The defending champion also got off to a successful start yesterday. Anastasia Potapova had little trouble in her two-set victory against the Italian qualifier Sara Errani. Potapova quickly found her "Linz rhythm" again. And she has already had a look at the new winner's trophy designed by Swarovski.
"As the saying goes: Diamonds are a girl's best friend. This trophy is beautiful, it's the first time that Swarovski has designed a trophy like this. This shiny gold trophy is extra motivation for me."
Anastasia Potapova
The next Italian awaits Potapova today with Elisabetta Cocciaretto (WTA 60). Meanwhile, Cocciaretto's compatriot Lucia Bronzetti wants to continue where she left off against Angelique Kerber on Tuesday evening. "I won against a real champion and put in a very good performance. It's really nice here in Linz and really comfortable because the hotel is so close to the court," said the 25-year-old from Rimini, who was able to rest yesterday. Meanwhile, her opponent Elise Mertens still had time to recover from her jet lag. It was only on Sunday that she and her partner Su-Wei Hsieh won the doubles title at the Australian Open and moved to the top of the doubles world rankings. The Belgian, who reached the final in Hobart in January, is ranked 26th in the singles and is seeded fourth in Linz.
While Mertens arrived in Linz on Monday, her opponent in the Australian Open doubles final, Jelena Ostapenko, only checked into the players' hotel yesterday afternoon. She then went straight onto the training court and then to the press conference, where the 2017 French Open winner was her usual aggressive self. When you're in such good form, you have to capitalise on it: Quarter-final in Brisbane, tournament win in Adelaide, doubles final at the Australian Open - the Latvian's record in the first four weeks of the new tennis year is simply breathtaking. The lively 26-year-old has established herself in the top 10 and wants to really attack again - both at the Grand Slams and this week here in Linz!
Her opponent today has fond memories of their last meeting. Clara Tauson defeated Jelena Ostapenko of all people in the final in Luxembourg in autumn 2021 and celebrated her last tournament win on the WTA Tour to date. And in Linz last year, she celebrated her best result of the entire year by reaching the quarter-finals. That sounds like a good basis for the Dane, who has been thwarted by injuries far too often in her career. A win against Ostapenko today would be her biggest victory since six months ago when she beat Barbora Krejcikova (WTA 12) in Cleveland.
Jelena Ostapenko arriving yesterday with Sandra Reichel and Barbara Schett
Age: 27
Born in: Osijek, Croatia
World ranking position: 34
Greatest success: Australian Open quarter-finals (2023)
Age: 23
Born in: Odessa, Ukraine
World ranking position: 29
Greatest success: Australian Open semi-final (2024)
SINIAKOVA
vs.
MARTIC
This event sends an impressive signal for women in sport in Austria! At the second edition of ADVANTAGE LADIES of the FE&MALE Sports Conference, renowned international speakers discussed the topic of gender equality as part of the WTA 500 Upper Austria Ladies Linz tournament. Together, they developed important approaches and aspects to further advance the equalisation of women and men in sport. The main topics of the largest Austrian symposium for women in sport were #Participation ("Fe&Male Empowerment"), #Ppolitics ("Equality is a must!"), #career ("Fe&Male as fuel").
In cooperation with the federal sports organisation Sport Austria, the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV) and the Reichel Business Group (RBG), women's minister Susanne Raab, geneticist Prof. Markus Hengstschläger, former tennis pro Andrea Petkovic, tournament ambassador Barbara Schett and Advantage Ladies ambassador Teresa Pellegrini, who is the cox in Austria's men's eight, discussed the future of women's careers in sports organisations under the motto "Better Together". The active and former female athletes provided exciting insights into the everyday lives of female athletes, coaches and officials, highlighting opportunities and prospects for women as well as challenges that need to be overcome on the road to gender equality.
"The tennis players at the tournament are role models for everyone, because they show that you can get to the top with hard work."
Minister for Women's Affairs MMag.a Dr Susanne Raab.
Markus Achleitner, Provincial Councillor for Economic Affairs and Sport, was also present at the get-together of several politicians from Austria. In keeping with the European Table Tennis Championships, which will take place in Linz in October 2024, Sandra Reichel and Andrea Petkovic competed against Barbara Schett and Markus Achleitner at the table tennis table.
Of course, a visit from the Deputy Mayor of the City of Linz to the women's tennis classic is a must! Yesterday, Wednesday, Karin Hörzing dropped by the tournament - in addition to attending the FE&MALE Sports Conference, there was also time for a photo with the former world number 9, Andrea Petkovic.
Two days before their next home game in the ICE Hockey League, the ice hockey pros of the Steinbach Black Wings Linz made a detour to the Design Centre and attended yesterday's Upper Austria Ladies games up close. The puck hunters brought along an original Black Wings jersey for tournament ambassador Barbara Schett. Tomorrow (7.15 pm) they will be back in the LINZ AG Eisarena against HCB Südtirol Alperia for important points. We keep our fingers crossed!
The Upper Austria Ladies Linz remains a beacon for sustainability and has been officially certified as a "Green Event", just like last year. The certificate was presented to tournament director Sandra Reichel on the centre court in the presence of Stefan Kaineder (Upper Austrian State Councillor for the Environment), Eva Schobesberger (Linz City Councillor for Climate Action) and Norbert Rainer (Managing Director of the Upper Austrian Climate Alliance).
British qualifier Jodie Burrage, second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova (photo) and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova are the first players to reach the quarter-finals of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. For Burrage, the two-set victory over "lucky loser" Jaqueline Cristian was a historic success - she will reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 500 tournament for the very first time in her career on Friday. Ekaterina Alexandrova made short work of German qualifier Jule Niemeier 6:3, 6:0 to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time in her seventh tournament appearance in Upper Austria. Meanwhile, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova followed in the footsteps of her tournament victory in Linz in 2015, winning in 97 minutes against Katie Boulter in a high-class encounter at times, remaining without a set loss in the tournament and now unquestionably one of the favourites.
There was a lot on offer on yesterday's ADMIRAL Day! From welcome gifts, competitions at the centre court and a backstage tour with Barbara Schett, everything was included.
The dream is over! After her opening defeat in the singles, Vienna's Sinja Kraus and Melanie Klaffner have now also been eliminated in the doubles. The only Austrian pairing in the main draw of the doubles competition at the WTA 500 tournament lost 1:6 and 4:6 to the Americans Asia Muhammad and Alycia Parks. All the best Sinja & Melanie, there will be another chance next year in Linz!
Approachable player: On her non-competition day, Clara Tauson took a lot of time for her fans at an autograph session. A visit to the fan shop was also a must! Why not take a look here and get your own personal souvenir?
Whether as a pick-me-up in the morning or as a break filler - delicious coffee promises an unmistakable flavour every time in its different varieties. This year, the Segafredo stand at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz will be offering visitors the coffee of their choice in reusable cups - making the coffee taste even better!
Are you ready for the pollen season? Just in time for the start of spring, together with our sponsor OMNi-BiOTiC® we are giving away a year's supply of OMNi-BiOTiC® 6 (60g) including an exclusive consultation or one of 100 monthly packs of OMNi-BiOTiC® 6!
Did you know? OMNi-BiOTiC® is not only the No. 1 product in the German-speaking market, but also among some of the most successful tennis professionals in the world.
How to take part in the competition:
Tell us your tip as to which current and former tennis pro it could be. You can take part either via the QR code or directly at the stand in the Public Village.
![Babara Schett[2]](https://ladieslinz.at/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Babara-Schett2-qj4esekgizhunjatcxnvsadyo5kxzj1k3t3ogzaio0.jpg "Babara Schett[2]")
Have you spotted it yet? The youngest and hardest-working players on the court will be wearing Lexus outfits on three days for the "Walk on Court". The premium manufacturer will also be providing the entire fleet of electrified vehicles for the players. Visitors will also have the opportunity to get to know the manufacturer's models up close. These include the all-electric premium SUV Lexus RZ and, as a further highlight, the brand-new Lexus LBX.
Cool sustainability initiative! For every ace beaten, Oberösterreichische Versicherung covers the cost of a honeycomb for a young beekeeper.
Presented by
8.30 - 11.00 am: Sport & fun with the stars
14.00 - 18.00 hrs: Activity games and face painting on the Green Court
Chocolate campaign from ORF ÖO + Wenschitz
OÖ Versicherung promotions
Stay on top of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz with ORF Sport Plus! The broadcast times at a glance:
Thursday, 1 February 2024
From 13.55 (ORF Sport Plus)
Friday, 2 February 2024
From 12.55 pm (ORF Sport Plus)
From 13.35 (ORF1)
Saturday, 3 February 2024
From 2.00 pm (ORF Sport Plus)
Sunday, 4 February 2024
From 2.00 pm (ORF Sport Plus)
The matches can also be streamed on the ORF TVthek. With just one click, you can be there live on centre court.
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.
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Maximilianstrasse 30
4600 Wels
Austria
Contact
Impress
Privacy policy