Fans can look forward to an exciting mix of sport, fun, action and business. "Anyone who is even halfway interested in sport should definitely be at the Upper Austria Ladies next week. The fact that a WTA 500 event can take place in Upper Austria is extraordinary and a great honour. It puts us on a par with Washington, Seoul, Tokyo or Berlin," says Tournament Director Sandra Reichel, referring directly to the top stars who will duel at Austria's only WTA tournament next week. Just this week, Karolina Muchova, the 2023 French Open finalist, received a wildcard for the tournament, which will also be enriched by Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon winner. Other top stars include 2021 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, multiple Grand Slam semi-finalists Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) and Maria Sakkari (Greece). There are also exciting youngsters such as Dayana Yastremska (Australian Open semi-finalist in 2024) and Lulu Sun from New Zealand (WTA Newcomer of the Year 2024). From an Austrian perspective, Sinja Kraus, Julia Grabher and Mavie Österreicher will be competing. The 22-year-old Austrian won the "Young Ladies Wildcard Challenge" for the third time last weekend and thus secured a wildcard for the qualifiers. 

The last wildcards will be allocated on Saturday. The draw will take place on Sunday at 1 pm. The first qualifying matches will start on Sunday at 10am. 

The Upper Austria Ladies Linz is once again a unique projection screen for the great importance of women's sport in Austria. This will also be impressively underlined by the FE&MALE Sports Conference Advantage Ladies on Wednesday 29 January.

"Advantage Ladies": The FE&MALE Sports Conference

The 3rd FE&MALE Sports Conference, which takes place on Wednesday 29 January at the Linz Design Centre, boasts a list of top speakers. At the top of the list are Olympic sailing champion Dr Lara Vadlau and rowing world champion and conference ambassador Magdalena Lobnig. The results of a study on "Opportunities and prospects in women's sport", conducted by the Linz Market Institute, are also eagerly awaited.

Further information on the extensive supporting programme can be found at www.ladieslinz.at. 

Tickets for the WTA 500 tournament and for the FE&MALE Sports Conference Advantage Ladies are available via the online platform at www.ladieslinz.at and some are still available at the Design Centre box office.

Statements on the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2025

Tournament ambassador Barbara Schett: 

"This year's Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2025 is characterised by the presence of players who can boast extraordinary successes. But Linz is also always a springboard for new players who are on their way to the top. This mix is what makes the Upper Austria Ladies Linz so special."

Julia Grabher:

"It's always special to play here in Linz. We don't often have the opportunity to play in front of home fans, so I'm particularly looking forward to it. I started the new year quite well in New Zealand. In Melbourne, things didn't go as I had imagined, but I now have the chance to do better next week."

Mavie Österreicher:

"The Wildcard Challenge is a huge opportunity for young players and you can really get a taste of the tennis world if you win. I will try to play my game. I have nothing to lose and above all I want to enjoy it."

Dietmar Prammer (Executive Deputy Mayor of the City of Linz):

"Linz will once again be the venue for top-class tennis! The Upper Austria Ladies Linz tournament has long been more than just a sporting event - it is a flagship event that has made Linz known far beyond its borders as a dynamic and sport-loving city. The upgrade to the WTA 500 category underlines the outstanding work of the organisation team and is further proof of the importance of this event for Linz and international tennis. I wish everyone a great tournament week in our beautiful city!"

Karin Hörzing (Deputy Mayor of the City of Linz):

"The 34th edition of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz once again sends out a strong signal for international women's tennis and emphasises the importance of Linz as a venue for world-class events. With its inclusion in the prestigious WTA 500 category last year, the tournament under the direction of Sandra Reichel and her team has further cemented itself as a fixture in the global tennis calendar. The tournament's social commitment is particularly impressive: the "1,000 tennis rackets for 1,000 girls" initiative and participation in my city's "Sport and fun with the stars" initiative are examples of how sporting events can provide social impetus. The promotion of women is also a central component of this tournament and a strong signal in favour of equal rights and equal opportunities. The Upper Austria Ladies Linz combines top sporting performance with social responsibility and offers visitors a week full of exciting matches and unforgettable moments. My heartfelt thanks go to Sandra Reichel and her team for the great organisation as well as the sponsors and numerous helpers who make this event a success year after year."