MAUTHAUSEN, May 1, 2024

The Danube Upper Austria Open powered by SKE will begin with the qualifying in Mauthausen on Sunday. For the third time, international top tennis can be witnessed in Upper Austria at the ATP Challenger 100 clay-court tournament. Preparations are in the final stages, and the excitement is palpable everywhere. Austria’s talent Joel Schwaerzler, who currently also plays for Union Mauthausen in the Bundesliga, has big plans for the home tournament and is looking forward to an exciting week of matches.

The 18-year-old local talent, currently ranked World No. 1 in the ITF Junior Rankings, has ambitious goals. He aims to showcase his best on home soil and continue his successful journey of recent weeks. In April, Schwaerzler defeated former World No. 39 J. J. Wolf from the United States in Savannah, Georgia and reached his maiden quarterfinal on the ATP Challenger Tour in Tallahassee, Florida. Next stop for the 18-year-old Vorarlberg native is the Danube Upper Austria Open powered by SKE.

“My development in the past weeks and months has been really good. I have become much calmer on the court and in building points. The things I work on and plan in training, I can now implement superbly in matches,” said Schwaerzler. “Being number one in the Juniors Ranking was one of my intermediate goals. I have now achieved that, it was an important milestone for me and the ticket for Challenger tournaments with a wildcard. But my journey continues, and I work hard for that!”

Now Schwaerzler awaits his home tournament with the Danube Upper Austria Open powered by SKE. It’s no surprise that the teenager is already full of enthusiasm. “I’m really looking forward to Mauthausen. I have been playing for Union Mauthausen in the Bundesliga recently, so it will be a home game. I like the courts and the facility, and I feel really comfortable there. The basic conditions for a good tennis week are therefore given.”

For tournament tickets, please click here.