New college project

Serving and graduating should become compatible

On the trail of college: Zulehner, Kainz and Mild (from left).(Bild: BAZZOKA)

Combining studies and tennis is a difficult undertaking. Especially in Austria, because not everyone can or wants to go to a college in the United States of America. On Tuesday, the Salzburg Tennis Association presented a project in cooperation with the Schloss Seeburg Private University that is based on this overseas model.

"We lose too many talented players after school on the second educational path," says Gerald Mild, association "vice" and head of the European Tennis Base in Rif. "As far as I know, it is the first of its kind in Europe." Students train in Rif and study in Seekirchen. The university relies on "maximum flexibility" with the help of modules for the six to twelve semester Sports and Event Management course, says Managing Director Florian Kainz. "This allows us to organize tournament trips lasting several weeks, for example." Prominent (former) athletes such as Matthias Lanzinger and goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn have completed their training there.

National and international players are to be addressed with the cooperation, which is running immediately. "Our aim is to bring talented youngsters into adult tennis," emphasizes association "president" Christian Zulehner. But in such a way that, in the end, serving on the court is compatible with a degree.