2023-07-07 03:08:47
Sinja Kraus and Dennis Novak are each put to the test in Oberpullendorf in the first sentence.
Favorite wins on the second main competition day of the win2day ÖTV state championships in Oberpullendorf: The big top stars of the national tournament highlight at the TC Sport-Hotel Kurz moved into the quarter-finals on Thursday thanks to two-set successes, in their first appearances after a bye at the start. In the men’s category defending champion Lukas Neumayer (STV/4) marched 6:1, 6:0 over the WTV series national champion Christoph Lang and last year’s finalist Filip Misolic (STTV/2) with a 6:0, 6:2 against Mario Haider- Maurer (BTV) in a rush into the last eight. Dennis Novak (STTV/3), on the other hand, was put to the test at 7: 5, 6: 1 over Johannes Prammer (OÖTV) in the first set, as was Sinja Kraus (OÖTV/2) at 7: 6 (3), 6: 1 over Alina Michalitsch (STTV).
Kraus in the state champion duel against Neuwirth
Kraus, who had just stumbled over the last hurdle on the way to her first Grand Slam main competition in Wimbledon, opened the match day on center court and was 1:5 behind the aggressive and relaxed local hero Michalitsch from Burgenland. “I have to say that the switch from grass to sand was a bit more difficult than I thought. Well, I felt pretty good in training yesterday and the day before, but playing points is something else again,” the second-seeded Viennese told ÖTV. “As expected, Alina played super powerful from the start, fearlessly,” praised Kraus Michalitsch, who initially felt great in the clear outsider role. “I, on the other hand, started very nervously, wasn’t really focused and very unfocused. But I’m glad that I fought my way in quite well.” Game after game, the 21-year-old released the handbrake that she initially had in it, even fended off a set ball at 5: 6 before she was increasingly able to take command and clearly set the tone after winning the first set in the tie-break.
Kraus is expecting the next tough task on Friday, when fighting for a place in the semi-finals: As the 2021 state champion, she will meet the 2012 state champion Yvonne Neuwirth (NÖTV), who has already celebrated four clear victories including qualification, with a total of only nine game losses. Kraus won the 2021 final against Neuwirth 6: 2, 6: 0 – this time she just wants to “try not to think too much about what’s coming from the other side, concentrate more on myself.” In the round of the last Four is waiting for the winner Nina Plihal (KTV) or the wildcard owner Mia Liepert (VTV), who surprisingly eliminated Veronika Bokor (NÖTV), who was in third place, with 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 3. Also in the upper half there is only one seed left with Anna-Lena Ebster (TTV/4), who meets wildcard Stefanie Auer (STTV). In addition, Aileen Hoxha (NÖTV), who was a lucky loser for the home number one who was still in Wimbledon, Julia Grabher (VTV/1), took advantage of her second chance and challenged Ines Faltinger (NÖTV), runner-up in the ÖTV halls, in the quarter-finals. .
Neumayer and Misolic are convincing, Novak with expected conversion problems
There was no weakness on the center court Neumayer, who took the first step towards defending his title against Lang. “The result was very clear, and that’s why I’m very satisfied,” said the man from Salzburg. “I think because I returned so well and he didn’t even have the opportunity to be offensive in the rally, I made it pretty difficult for him. That was actually my goal, that I set the tone in his service games right away from the return, and I did that really well.” In the quarter-finals, the 20-year-old now has to deal with Patrick Ofner (KTV/6), who up to now two three-set victories and already had to invest some strength. In the second quarterfinal match of the upper half, ex-professional Lenny Hampel (WTV), state champion of 2017, challenges the up-and-coming ATP professional Sandro Kopp (TTV/5), currently number 453 in the world. Neumayer’s opponent in the final last year, Misolic, also didn’t miss a beat in the opener against Haider-Maurer, state champion 2014: “I think I played very well, aggressively from the start. Just like I planned to do,” said the 21-year-old happily. Only at 6:0, 2:0 did he “lose his nerve a little, but luckily I found my game again from 2:2.” Austria’s Davis Cup player is now expecting a Styrian duel with qualifier Hans-Peter Kaufmann .
Coming straight from Wimbledon, Novak entered the center court at around 4:00 p.m., less than 24 hours after his defeat in the first main round of the grass Grand Slam in London against the Canadian serve giant Milos Raonic and with travel strains in his legs. So it was no wonder that the changeover to the local clay courts didn’t go perfectly right away: “It was very difficult for me at the beginning. I just had a hard time getting going. But you also have to say that he played very well at the beginning. I was extremely surprised that he served very well and had a quick forehand,” he praised Prammer, who courageously took risks and initially even led 3:1 and 4:2. “And I had a bit of a problem with timing and moving at the beginning. I didn’t really know how to slide here, I even ran out of some balls, very strange,” smiled the Lower Austrian in an interview with ÖTV. “When I made the break to make it 4:4 in the first set, it was a bit easier for me.” The reigning Austrian indoor champion Jakob Aichhorn (STV) is now the next opponent. “I would have actually thought that I would play against my very best friend (Ex-pro Thomas Statzberger; note), but unfortunately he lost. I’ll just prepare well. What’s important now is to relax, eat well, sleep – and then I’ll definitely be ready again tomorrow.”
Schmidt as the unlucky fellow of the day – Super Friday is imminent
The unlucky man of the day was Gabriel Schmidt (OÖTV). The man from Salzburg was 6:3, 5:1 against Kraftpaket Kaufmann in the round of 16. He missed a first match point at 5:2, but injured his adductors and had to end up having to play another match point at 5:4 give up when the score is 6:3, 5:7. Kaufmann is now opening Super Friday in Oberpullendorf against Misolic at 10:00 a.m. on Center Court (live on ORF SPORT+ and www.oetv.tv; ÖTV TV also shows courts 3/4/5 continuously live). This is followed by the women’s quarterfinals on the main court: Kraus vs. Neuwirth and Plihal vs. Liepert, until Aichhorn finally challenges Novak.
The supporting program on Super Friday is also impressive. All day there is the opportunity to visit the “Open Day” of the Tennis Academy Burgenland. The annual press conference for the ÖTV state championships takes place at 2:00 p.m. Immediately afterwards, from around 2:30 p.m., the charity double from Burgenland’s sports councilor Mag. Heinrich Dorner in favor of “DAFF – umbrella organization of Burgenland women, girls and family counseling centers” begins. Finally, at 5:00 p.m., academy director Wolfgang Thiem and head coach Pascal Brunner will provide an information presentation on the work of the Burgenland Tennis Academy. And at 6:30 p.m. the award ceremony for the charity doubles will take place afterwards. The official dinner starts at 7:00 p.m.
The Friday program on Center Court (live on ORF SPORT+ and www.oetv.tv)
10:00 a.m: Hans-Peter Kaufmann (STTV/Q) – Filip Misolic (STTV/2)
Not before 11:00 a.m.: Yvonne Neuwirth (STTV) – Sinja Kraus (OÖTV/2)
Not before 1:00 p.m.: Nina Plihal (KTV) – Mia Liepert (VTV/WC)
Not before 4 p.m.: Jakob Aichhorn (STV) – Dennis Novak (STTV/3)
Dennis Novak mastered conversion problems from the grass in Wimbledon and a strong Johannes Prammer.
© BTV / Dietmar Heger
1688706452
#Top #stars #win2day #ÖTV #state #championships #continue #lockstep