Tennis ace Neumayer

Mauthausen as preparation for the French Open

Lukas Neumayer serves at the Challenger in Mauthausen.(Bild: GEPA pictures/Mario Buehner-Weinrauch)

After overcoming back problems, tennis ace Lukas Neumayer serves in Mauthausen. The Challenger tournament in Upper Austria serves as preparation for qualifying for the French Open in Paris.

Two weeks ago, tennis ace Lukas Neumayer had to retire injured from a Challenger in the Czech Republic. Muscle strains forced the man from Radstadt to take a break. "I only did physiotherapy for a week," says the 21-year-old, who has been chasing the yellow felt ball again since Tuesday. From Tuesday, Neumayer will be competing in the Challenger in Mauthausen. "I don't have super high expectations. I'm concentrating on myself," he says, taking it easy. In addition to Neumayer (against Gabriel Diallo/CAN), the established Dennis Novak (against Lucas Pouille/FRA), Filip Misolic (against Marc-Andrea Hüsler/SUI) and Austria's young star Joel Schwärzler can be seen at the 120,950 Euro clay court tournament. Lucas Miedler and Sandro Kopp will also be competing.

Neumayer's focus is already on the French Open in Paris. There, the world number 206 (best career ranking) and Dominic Thiem will be playing in the qualifiers to make it into the main competition: "That's the big goal." Even if this means the STC will have to do without him in the Tennis Bundesliga. It is uncertain when he will play there. "Hopefully not this week, because I'm still in Mauthausen. It will be a spontaneous decision."