KITZBÜHEL/STARNBERG, July 11, 2025

The Generali Open Kitzbühel, one of Austria’s most prestigious tennis tournaments, has suffered a notable setback with the withdrawal of defending champion Matteo Berrettini. Still recovering from injury, the Italian – who already missed the Swiss Open in Gstaad – will now also be unable to return to Kitzbühel, where he triumphed last year.

“It’s a real shame for us,” said tournament director Alexander Antonitsch. “We were very much looking forward to welcoming him back. Hopefully, he’ll have the chance to defend his title here in the future when he’s fully fit.”

Yet where one door closes, another opens. With Berrettini’s absence, Austrian Filip Misolic moves directly into the main draw. His wildcard, in turn, has been passed on to 22-year-old compatriot Lukas Neumayer, who will make his third main-draw appearance in Kitzbühel.

For Neumayer, the tournament holds special memories. Back in 2021, he broke into a main draw on the ATP Tour for the first time after coming through qualifying. Then, in 2024, he returned with a wildcard and stunned fellow Austrian Sebastian Ofner in the opening round.

Ofner, meanwhile, is next in line to gain direct entry into the main draw. Should that happen, his wildcard would likely be given to another local hopeful—keeping the Austrian presence strong in front of the home crowd.

Off the court, top seed Alexander Bublik is settling in comfortably. The Kazakh star has already booked not only his own accommodation, but also three extra rooms for his family—suggesting he’s planning for an extended and successful stay in the Austrian Alps.