A dream comes true

Schwärzler: Wildcard for ATP tournament in Kitzbühel

Austria's young tennis star Joel Schwärzler, who fought for a place in the junior final at the French Open on Friday, can look forward to his first wildcard for an ATP main event. And it's at the biggest clay court tournament in the Alpine republic, the Generali Open in Kitzbühel. While Dominic Thiem heralds his farewell in the night session on Tuesday, July 23, the 18-year-old from Vorarlberg is getting a jump start on his career, so to speak.

"I would say it's almost part of our DNA to offer young, up-and-coming talent a platform at the Generali Open. That was already the case with Sinner, Tsitsipas, Zverev and, above all, Dominic Thiem, and of course also applies to what is currently probably Austria's biggest young talent stock," explained tournament organizer Markus Bodner. Even if they are going out on a limb with the early awarding of the wild card: "Joel has absolutely earned it," said Bodner and co-organizer Herbert Günther.

Schwärzler himself was delighted. "This is a childhood dream come true for me. I've been to Kitzbühel many times, the atmosphere is great. I hope that I can win a match there and the wild card is great motivation for the semi-finals in Paris," said the Vorarlberg native. Tournament director Alexander Antonitsch on the decision: "Joel has just won his first Challenger. That's why we want to give him the opportunity to play on the ATP Tour for the first time in Kitzbühel. He is a great promise for the future and is in the best hands with Jürgen Melzer," said the Carinthian.