KITZBÜHEL/STARNBERG, July 7, 2026
International women’s tennis will return to Kitzbühel for the first time in more than three decades when the Generali Open Ladies Kitzbühel, a new WTA 125 tournament, takes place from July 12–19, 2026 at the Kitzbühel Tennis Club.
The tournament will feature a blend of established professionals and emerging talents, with five Austrian players already confirmed in the main draw. Fans will be able to enjoy all main-draw matches from Monday to Friday free of charge.
Leading the home contingent are Sinja Kraus, Julia Grabher, Anna Pircher, Ekaterina Perelygina and Arabella Koller. Tirol native Pircher will make her WTA main-draw debut after receiving a wildcard, as will newly crowned Austrian national champion Perelygina and national championship finalist Koller. Kraus and Grabher, two of Austria’s most experienced players, will also compete together in the doubles event, while Pircher will partner another Austrian in the doubles draw.
Germany will be represented by a strong quartet consisting of Tatjana Maria, Mona Barthel, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Eva Bennemann. Maria arrives with extensive experience, having reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2022 and won the WTA 500 title at Queen’s Club in 2025. Barthel is a four-time WTA singles champion and former world No. 23, while Friedsam has reached two WTA singles finals during her career. Rising German prospect Bennemann enters the tournament with a wildcard after winning the girls’ doubles title at the 2025 French Open.
The field is headed by Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec, who broke into the Top 100 after claiming two WTA 125 titles in 2025. Other notable names include Spain’s Marina Bassols Ribera, Erika Andreeva of Russia, and Czech youngster Laura Samson, the former world No. 1 junior.
“Our player field reflects exactly what this tournament is meant to represent: international women’s tennis, compelling stories and a new stage for players on the rise,” said tournament director Carmen Huber.
The tournament draw featuring the Austrian players will be presented on July 12 during the Gipfel Concert at Kitzbüheler Horn. Qualifying begins on Sunday, July 12, before the main draw starts on Monday. The semifinals will be played on Saturday, July 18, with the championship match scheduled for Sunday, July 19, on Centre Court. Austria’s public broadcaster ORF will televise the first match of each day live on ORF 1, with all remaining matches shown on ORF SPORT+.
