TULLN/STARNBERG, August 31, 2026
International top-level tennis returns to the Garden City of Tulln from September 6–13, as the NÖ Open powered by EVN celebrate their sixth edition at TC Tulln. With Lukas Neumayer and Sandro Kopp both securing direct entry into the ATP Challenger main draw, Austria will be represented by two players with strong ambitions on home soil. Neumayer, in particular, heads to Lower Austria with plenty of confidence and fond memories of the tournament.
The final preparations are well underway, with just a few days to go before players begin battling for valuable ATP Ranking points in Tulln. Since its inaugural edition in 2021, the ATP Challenger 100 event has established itself as a fixture on the Austrian tennis calendar. Once again, fans can look forward to an international field featuring established professionals and some of the sport’s most promising emerging talents.
Among them will be Lukas Neumayer. The Salzburg native has already shown that he enjoys the conditions in Lower Austria. In 2024, he reached the final in Tulln, recording one of the strongest performances by an Austrian player in the tournament’s history.
The 23-year-old has also enjoyed a highly successful 2026 season so far. Neumayer has captured two Challenger titles and produced several other impressive performances on the international circuit. At the French Open in Paris, he came within touching distance of qualifying for the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.
After a somewhat inconsistent spell in recent weeks, Neumayer is hoping Tulln can mark the beginning of a strong final third of the season.
“I’m already really looking forward to it. It’s always something special to play in Austria, and Tulln is one of my highlights every year. I have very good memories of the tournament, especially the final two years ago. That also gives me confidence that I can play very well here,” Neumayer said.
His ambitions extend beyond the tournament itself. Just a few days after the NÖ Open powered by EVN, Austria will face Belgium in the Davis Cup in Vienna, giving Neumayer another opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd.
“Tulln is also a really good preparation for the Davis Cup for me. Having both events take place in Austria so close together makes the coming weeks even more special. My big goal for the season remains to move towards the Top 100. I don’t have too many points to defend over the next few months, so I want to make another big push,” the Salzburg native added.
Alongside Neumayer, Sandro Kopp will also be part of the main draw. The Tyrolean, who reached the semifinals of this week’s ATP Challenger 50 in Augsburg, Germany, secured his place in the 32-player field through his ranking. He will therefore also have the opportunity to compete against strong international opposition in front of a home crowd.
Leitgeb: “We want to remain flexible with the wild cards”
While the players are preparing for the challenges ahead, the final countdown is also underway behind the scenes. At TC Tulln, the last organizational and infrastructure work is being completed as the venue is transformed once again into an international tennis arena.
“The anticipation grows every day. When you see the facility gradually turning back into an international tournament venue, you know that it’s really about to begin,” tournament director Florian Leitgeb said.
“We have another very interesting field this year, with strong international players, while at the same time we want to provide Austrian players with the best possible platform, as we have done in the past. We are deliberately taking a little more time with the wild cards. We have had very good experiences with this approach in recent years and want to remain flexible right up until the tournament begins. In tennis, a lot can still change in the final few days.”
With Neumayer and Kopp already in the main draw through the regular acceptance list, the organizers have additional flexibility when allocating their wild cards. The final decisions are expected to be made shortly before the start of the tournament.
“Our goal is to offer spectators a week of really high-quality tennis while also giving as many Austrian players as possible the opportunity to compete at this level. That combination is exactly what has distinguished the NÖ Open powered by EVN in recent years,” Leitgeb added.
The draw ceremony is traditionally scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026, on the eve of the opening day of qualifying.
