VIENNA/WASHINGTON, October 26, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
The return of Carlos Alcaraz to the Austrian capital city for the first time since 2021, after accepting a main-draw wild card, is arguably the biggest storyline as this year’s ATP 500 Erste Bank Open gets underway at Wiener Stadthalle on Monday.
After a five-year absence from Vienna, the current World No. 3 and seven-time major champion from Spain headlines a talent-rich field that includes five other ATP Top-10 players: No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany, No. 5 Daniil Medvedev of Russia, No. 6 Flavio Cobolli of Italy, No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia, and No. 9 Frances Tiafoe of the United States.
With two-time champion and current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy not able to defend his title, Zverev will be the top seed in the 2026 event that boasts a total prize pool of €2,797,985, with €523,305 going to the singles champion.
Alexander Zverev (photo: e-motion/Stefan Strasser)
On Saturday, both Alcaraz and Zverev took to Marx Halle, the Austrian capital’s historic former cattle market that now serves as a second venue for the Erste Bank Open. There, Alcaraz practiced with Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Zverev went through a workout with his team in preparation for a run to another Austria title and a chance to rise to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time.
As the tournament’s main draw was revealed, Zverev learned he will open against #NextGenAtP Spanish wild card Martin Landaluce and could meet either European Open champion Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands or ATP Masters 1000 Montreal finalist Brandon Nakashima of the United States in the second round. Tiafoe looms as a possible quarterfinal opponent and Cobolli or de Minaur could provide stiff opposition in the semifinal round.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz will open with US Open semifinalist Karen Khachanov of Russia in the first round and could face Austrian wild card Jurij Rodionov or Almaty finalist Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the second round. A possible quarterfinal opponent is No. 7 seed Tommy Paul of the United States and a likely semifinalist is either Almaty champion and No. 3 seed Medvedev or No. 8 seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia.
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Alcaraz lost to Zverev in the semifinal round during the German No. 1’s 2021 Vienna title run. Now, as Zverev chases after another Austrian crown – and looks to add to his Roland-Garros and US Open titles this season – should he reach the quarterfinals, he would guarantee himself of becoming World No. 1 for the first time in his career on November 2, overtaking Sinner. He would become just the second German player to be ranked No. 1, after Boris Becker in 1991.
The 29-year-old Zverev has already wrapped up ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honors.
Around the Wiener Stadthalle
Lukas Neumayer (photo: e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Martin Steiger)
• Lukas Neumayer of Austria qualified for the main draw for the first time after defeating No. 5 seed Titouan Droguet of France, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in the final round of qualifying on Sunday. The 168th-ranked Austrian from Salzburg saved the only break point he faced and outpointed the 69th-ranked Droguet 72-58.
Neumayer, 24, is one of two Austrians in the 32-player main draw. He joins 27-year-old wild card Jurij Rodionov, ranked 137th.
Also, advancing to the main draw via qualifying: No. 72 and sixth seed Tomas Machac of Czechia, who received a walkover against No. 64 and third seed Fabian Marozsan of Hungary; No. 79 Adrian Mannario of France, who defeated 80th-ranked Alex Molcan of Slovakia, 7-5, 6-2; and No. 87 Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain, who beat No. 89 Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-4.
• Austrian great Dominic Thiem took center stage at Wiener Stadthalle’s Centre Court to meet fans during an autograph session on Sunday. The 2019 Vienna champion, who signed plenty of tennis balls, posters and posed for selfies, also was involved in the Erste Bank Screen Slam.
The Super Fan Day also gave selected fans a series of unforgettable experiences, including: a walk-on-court experience, a tour of the Red Bull Energy Station and an exclusive backstage meet and greet. The grand prize offered one lucky fan a personal tennis session on Centre Court, a unique opportunity to pick up a racquet alongside Thiem.
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Monday’s Erste Bank Open order of play
By the numbers
Although defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy is missing from this year’s event, having shut down his 2026 season early due to a knee injury, the Italians are well represented in this year’s main draw with a total of five players – most of any country: World No. 6 and fourth seed Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, new Lyon titlist Lorenzo Musetti, Luciano Darderi and Matteo Arnaldi.
“Quotable …”
“It means an incredible amount to me to play in the main draw of a 500-level tournament for the first time. This is also the first year in which I have won a match in Vienna and qualified for the main draw. I’m already really looking forward to the opening round.”
– Lukas Neumayer of Austria, 24, as quoted by the Erste Bank Open website, after qualifying for his first ATP 500 main draw. Neumayer will face World No. 16 and eighth seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia in a first-round match on Monday, which is Austria’s National Day.
