MAUTHAUSEN/STARNBERG, May 3, 2025
Semifinal day at the Danube Upper Austria Open powered by SKE delivered high drama and world-class tennis, with both singles matches showcasing grit, skill, and determination on Center Court. In the end, Tomas Barrios Vera and Cristian Garin emerged victorious to set up an all-Chilean final, while local favorite Nico Hipfl and Switzerland’s Jerome Kym captured the doubles crown in a thrilling finish.
Barrios Vera booked his spot in Sunday’s final with a confident 6-3, 7-5 win over Jerome Kym in the day’s opening semifinal. The Chilean, seeded fifth, stormed out of the gates, racing to a double-break lead at 4-0 before closing out the first set despite a brief fightback from Kym. “When I was down 0-4 so quickly, my mind started spinning – that’s still one of my biggest challenges,” Kym admitted afterward. “It’s such a shame because I played great tennis all week, but today I just couldn’t find my rhythm. I wasn’t getting under the ball, the pace felt too fast, and I couldn’t find solutions.”
Kym fought valiantly in the second set, twice breaking Barrios Vera’s serve to take the lead, but couldn’t hold onto his advantage. The Chilean responded both times with immediate breaks of his own and sealed the match with a composed finish. “This was my best match of the week,” Barrios Vera said. “I felt very comfortable, my return was solid, and I think I deserved to win.”
The second semifinal was a rollercoaster. Cristian Garin, a former World No. 17, staged an extraordinary comeback to defeat Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. Burruchaga appeared firmly in control, winning the first set and going up 3-0 with break points for 4-0 in the second. But Garin dug deep, shifting momentum with a more varied, tactical game. From that moment on, he dominated, reeling off nine straight games to complete his turnaround in just over two hours.
“Midway through the second set, I thought it was over,” Garin admitted. “But I found a way to break his rhythm and started mixing up my shots. My first serve also improved a lot, and that was key. My goal is to get back into the top 100 – that’s what I’m pushing for. Sometimes I lack the right mindset, like in the first set and a half, and that’s something I need to work on.”.
Hipfl and Kym capture doubles title
Saturday also brought doubles glory for Nico Hipfl and Jerome Kym, who lifted the ATP Challenger Tour 100 trophy after an electrifying final. The duo edged past Ryan Seggerman from the United States and Briton David Stevenson 7-6, 3-6, 10-2 in a tense match that came down to a deciding champions tiebreak.
“We went into the match without pressure, even though it was a final,” Hipfl reflected. “We enjoyed every point, and in the end it worked out. It was incredibly emotional. Singles didn’t go as I had hoped this week, but we got the best out of doubles. We kept improving every day, and this gives me motivation to keep working hard.”
Kym added: “It’s been a tough season, and today was an emotional day. Before the tournament, we’d never lost a doubles match together – I didn’t want to jinx it! I’m so happy we won. I’ve been made to feel like family here, and having my dad travel in for the final was really special. In a match tiebreak, anything can happen – we played an incredible match.”
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