KITZBÜHEL/STARNBERG, July 21, 2026
The second and third seeds of the Generali Open Kitzbühel took a break from the tennis court for a very different kind of family duel on Tuesday. Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot visited Rosi Schipflinger at her famous Sonnbergstuben and took part in a Kaiserschmarrn challenge.
The two cousins prepared the traditional Austrian dessert themselves in a large pan, breaking it apart, turning it, and adding the finishing ingredients. Celebrity hostess and singer Rosi Schipflinger served as the judge and carefully evaluated both creations.
For Vacherot, the challenge was a completely new experience. The Monegasque, currently ranked No. 19 in the world and winner of the 2025 Shanghai Masters, is making his first appearance at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Vacherot said. “The scenery is beautiful and the whole venue is fantastic. Arthur convinced me to play here because he knows how much I love the mountains. We used to ski a lot ourselves, so we really enjoy being here.
“Of course we’re here to play good tennis, but we also want to look around and get to know Kitzbühel better. Today was the first time I had ever seen or tasted Kaiserschmarrn—and I even got to prepare it myself.”
Rinderknech already knows Kitzbühel well. The Frenchman, currently No. 27 in the ATP Rankings, is playing the Generali Open for the fourth time and has reached the semifinals twice in the Tyrolean town.
“I told Valentin about the beauty of the mountains, the great hotels, and the excellent conditions,” Rinderknech said. “I advised him to come to Kitzbühel and experience the region for himself because it’s really something special.”
The Frenchman also made sure to introduce his cousin to the local cuisine.
“Of course I also recommended that he try Kaiserschmarrn, because I eat it every time I’m here,” Rinderknech said. “It was even nicer that we got to prepare it ourselves this time and that he could try it for the first time.”
In the end, Rinderknech was declared the winner of the family challenge.
“It was very kind of Rosi to let me win,” he joked.
The cousins could meet again later in the tournament, with a direct clash possible in the semifinals. Their spectacular encounter in Shanghai last year had already attracted international attention.
Both players will begin their Generali Open campaigns on Wednesday. Rinderknech will face the winner of the match between former Kitzbühel champions Miomir Kecmanovic and Sebastian Baez, while Vacherot will take on the winner of the contest between Laslo Djere and Quentin Halys.
