World number ten Mirra Andreeva won the 35th edition of the women's tennis classic in Linz.
In the final at the sold-out Design Centre, the world number ten beat local hero Anastasia Potapova 1:6, 6:4 and 6:3. The 18-year-old is thus the first top 10 player since Dominika Cibulkova ten years ago to add her name to the list of winners in Linz. It was not quite enough for Potapova to score a major coup at her home tournament. She was the first Austrian woman ever to reach the final at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz.
As in the singles, there was also a victory for the top favourites in the doubles competition at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. The top-ranked pairing of Sorana Cirstea (Romania)/Zhang Shuai (China) confidently beat the Czech pairing of Jesika Maleckova/ Miriam Skoch 6:3, 6:2 in just over an hour.
Cirstea, who has already reached the quarter-finals in the singles and will end her career at the end of the season, celebrated an emotional farewell to the city on the Danube. She played doubles together with Zhang Shuai for the first time this week - and with great success! „It's my last year and I'm so happy to still have a trophy from Linz at home. This is one of my favourite tournaments and I've come back eleven times. You really do everything for us players here. I couldn't be happier,“ summarised Cirstea, providing the perfect closing words for the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2026.
The official draw presented by LINZ AG took place at one of the best-known and most popular excursion destinations in Linz and Upper Austria. The Grottenbahn on the Pöstlingberg, with its dragon train and dwarf kingdom as well as the unique fairytale world, provided a fantastic backdrop for the world elite in women's tennis. This year, the Grottenbahn celebrates its 120th anniversary.
„The Grottenbahn is a very special place with a long history. It fits in very well with Upper Austria Ladies Linz,“ explained Dr Jutta Rinner, CEO of LINZ AG.
The fourth edition of Advantage Ladies, the FE&MALE Sports Conference held as part of Upper Austria Ladies Linz, was once again a resounding success. High-calibre representatives from a wide range of sports such as Olympic skeleton champion Janine Flock, national football player Sarah Zadrazil and tennis coach Judy Murray joined experts from socially relevant areas such as the media (European Broadcasting Union) and academia on stage to discuss the topics of equal opportunities, gender balance and structural changes in sport in an interdisciplinary and practical manner.
At the Players Alpine Night presented by Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich in the VIP area of the Design Centre on Monday evening, players, sponsors and other invited guests celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Linz women's tennis classic in style! The players were dressed in traditional costumes from Heimatwerk to match the theme and competed in a variety of Easter challenges, which the tournament favourite Mirra Andreeva won in the end. The „Plattlermentscha“ Schuhplattler dancers from Bad Kreuzen provided the entertainment.
For every ace beaten, Oberösterreichische Versicherung covers the cost of 1 m² of seed. A total of 243 aces were beaten, but Oberösterreichische Versicherung rounded up its donation to 600. Many thanks for this great sustainability initiative!
In keeping with the motto „Giving children a chance“, the „1,000 rackets for 1,000 girls“ campaign took place for the fifth time this year. Together with the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV) and the Upper Austrian Tennis Association (OÖTV), the Upper Austria Ladies Linz has wanted to get children interested in the sport since 2021 and give them a unique opportunity to receive a tennis racket. Dunlop, the official ball partner of the tournament, Oberösterreichische Versicherung, LINZ AG and Plan International are also supporting the campaign.
The organisers will provide a total of 1,000 tennis rackets over several years, which will be „raffled off“ to 1,000 girls between the ages of six and ten. Thank you very much for your support!
The inclusion match on Saturday proved it once again: Wheelchair tennis is a sport that could hardly be more exciting and dynamic. Alongside the doubles finalists Jesika Maleckova and Miriam Skoch, Christina Pesendorfer (Bad Ischl) and Vanessa Jenewein (Innsbruck) played a thrilling match, which Pesendorfer and Skoch won 10:6.
Bernhard Huber, Managing Director of Volkshilfe Oberösterreich, had words of praise for the event: „Inclusion means that everyone can take part. This tournament is therefore a prime example. I am proud that we have something like this in Upper Austria.”
As part of the „Sport & Fun with the Tennis Stars“ series of events, kindergarten children from Linz were invited to the world-class women's tennis tournament.
Together with tennis coach Judy Murray, tournament ambassador Babsi Schett and professional player Zhang Shuai, the kids were able to try out tennis and let off steam.
Even „Ele“, the mascot of Oberösterreichische Versicherung AG, didn't miss out on a visit. A big thank you to the City of Linz and Deputy Mayor Karin Leitner for making this possible!
Final!
ANDREEVA VS POTAPOVA
The 35th edition of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz exceeded all expectations and set new standards in many areas. At the anniversary tournament in the Linz Design Centre, tennis fans not only experienced world-class women's tennis, but also an event that has become a social highlight of the year and even more diverse in the Upper Austrian capital.
In our tournament summary, tournament director Sandra Reichel and tournament founder Peter-Michael Reichel take stock.
Almost 24,000 fans visited the Design Centre over the course of the tournament week. The final weekend from Friday to Saturday was just as sold out as Tuesday, the „Day of the Austrians“, and Thursday.
Numerous pupils experienced world-class tennis up close and were able to meet players at press conferences. They were also in demand themselves: thanks to a video competition, the youngsters had the chance to win EUR 500 for their class fund, great vouchers from Linz AG and a moment of honour on centre court on the final day!
Sustainability was also a top priority at the 35th anniversary of the tournament! The WTA 500 tournament was therefore recognised as a Green Event for the fourth time.
This year's award was presented by Stefan Kaineder, State Councillor for the Environment.
The Linz women's tennis classic celebrated its premiere 35 years ago and today the Upper Austria Ladies Linz is the second oldest WTA indoor tournament in the world.
To mark the 35th anniversary of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz, tournament director Sandra Reichel and tournament ambassador Barbara Schett invited former Austrian players from the last 35 years to the Design Centre.
Barbara Paulus, Sandra Dopfer, Karin Kschwendt, Melanie Klaffner, Beate Reinstadler and Sybille Bammer from Linz accepted the invitation, were honoured for their achievements on centre court and used the day to reminisce together.
Our online exhibition offers a glimpse into history with over three decades of top-class matches, famous players and great moments.
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