Austria’s most traditional youth tennis tournament – the ALPSTAR International Springbowl – will be held for the 44th time in 2024.
From May 5th to 11th, international young players under the age of 18 will compete against the best Austrians.
The Union Tennis Parkclub St. Pölten is the venue for the most renowned youth tournament in the country, which this year has a new main sponsor, ALPSTAR.
Qualification starts on Sunday
Qualification will take place on May 5th and 6th, followed by the main competitions from May 7th. Admission is free on all tournament days.
The event offers the opportunity to experience international junior tennis at the highest level in Lower Austria. The ALPSTAR International Springbowl is an ITF U18 event in the J200 category – and therefore one of only two tournaments of this level in Austria.
Austria’s U18 champions at the start
Janis Graski, the newly crowned Austrian U18 champion, will play in the main competition thanks to a wildcard, as will Alexander Wagner, former Racketlon youth world champion.
Great hopes for a top domestic result at the 44th edition of Austria’s oldest youth tournament rest on Nico Hipfl, number 147 in the U18 world rankings and Austria’s number two in the U18 world rankings. With Thilo Behrmann (U18-WRL. 289), another Austrian is firmly in the main competition due to his ranking.
13-year-old top talent from Tyrol
Thanks to a wildcard, the two-time ÖTV Young Player of the Year Anna Pircher is in the main competition of the ALPSTAR 44th International Springbowl. Last year she reached the quarterfinals at her Spring Bowl premiere.
The 13-year-old (U18 WRL. 553) celebrated her first U18 tournament victory at the J30 Vienna just a few days ago. Austria’s U16 champion (and U18 finalist) Johanna Corciova and Austria’s U18 champion Leoni Rabl also receive wildcards for the main competition.
The Americans Roy Horovitz (U18-WRL. 45) and Kase Shinnerer (U18-WRL. 64) lead the field among boys. Among the girls, the Dutch Joy De Zeeuw (U18-WRL. 42) and the Czech Sarah Melany Fajmonova (U18-WRL. 93) are the best-ranked players in the competition.
U12 international match between Austria and Hungary
In addition to the semi-finals and finals in singles and doubles, the traditional U12 international match between Austria and Hungary will take place on May 10, 2024. Raimund Stefanits, the organizer, emphasizes that this competition offers young talents the opportunity to gain international experience and recommend themselves for future editions of the International Springbowl.
Time schedule
Saturday, May 4: Sign-In
Sunday, May 5: Qualification
Monday, May 6: Qualification
Tuesday, May 7: 1st round MD, singles and doubles
Wednesday, May 8: 2nd round MD singles and doubles
Thursday, May 9: VF singles, SF doubles
Friday, May 10th: SF singles, final doubles | U12 youth international competition: Austria – Hungary
Saturday, May 11th: Final 10:00 a.m., followed by awards ceremony