MAUTHAUSEN/STARNBERG, April 28, 2026
Austria celebrated its first main-draw victories at the Danube Upper Austria Open powered by SKE, as Sandro Kopp and Lukas Neumayer booked their spots in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Joel Schwaerzler narrowly missed out after a closely contested encounter with Jan Choinski.
Kopp set the tone early on Centre Court, defeating former Top 20 player Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 6-4. The Austrian delivered a composed and consistent performance, capitalizing on key moments against the experienced Georgian. “I played a solid match,” Kopp said. “Against a player like him, you never quite know what to expect, so it’s important to stay focused and take your chances. I’ve been playing well in recent weeks, even if the results didn’t reflect it—this win feels really good.”
Shortly after, Neumayer followed with an impressive 6-1, 7-5 victory over Chun-Hsin Tseng. The 23-year-old dominated the opening set and showed resilience in the second, recovering from an early deficit to close out the match. “The first set was almost perfect,” Neumayer explained. “In the second, he raised his level, but I knew I would get chances on his serve. I stayed calm and focused point by point, which made the difference.” He also emphasized his physical condition as a key factor: “I feel extremely fit right now, and that helps a lot in long rallies.”
Next up, Neumayer faces a tough challenge against last year’s finalist Tomas Barrios Vera, while Kopp will take on Spain’s David Jorda Sanchis.
Schwaerzler, meanwhile, delivered a spirited performance but ultimately fell short against Choinski in a match lasting over two hours. After losing the opening set, the Austrian fought back to level the contest before conceding an early break in the decider, which proved decisive in a 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 defeat.
“First rounds are always tricky, but I started well and held my serve consistently in the first set,” said Choinski. “The second set was closer, but getting that early break in the third made the difference. After that, I served well and closed out the match.” The Brit, who won the Challenger in Tulln in 2024, once again showed his comfort playing in Austria, where he frequently trains.
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