KITZBÜHEL/STARNBERG, July 16, 2025
The stage is set for a strong Austrian presence at the Generali Open Kitzbühel (July 19–26), as four homegrown talents will feature in the main draw of the prestigious ATP 250 clay-court tournament. Filip Misolic and Sebastian Ofner have secured direct entry, while promising youngsters Lukas Neumayer and Joel Schwärzler have been awarded wildcards. The tournament kicks off this Saturday with the qualifying.
With recent withdrawals from players like Laslo Djere and Marin Cilic, both Misolic and Ofner were able to make the cut without requiring wildcards. Their entry paves the way for Schwärzler and Neumayer to join the main draw, giving Austrian tennis fans a quartet of red-white-red hopefuls to cheer on.
Jarry secures final wildcard
The final main-draw wildcard, awarded by tournament license holder Octagon, has been granted to Chilean Nicolas Jarry. The Wimbledon Round-of-16 finisher made headlines with an impressive comeback, having battled through qualification and defeated top-tier players such as Holger Rune and Joao Fonseca in London. His presence in Kitzbühel adds further star power to an already exciting lineup.
Long-term Commitment to rising stars
Tournament organizers continue to invest in youth development, having signed long-term agreements with several emerging players. Following in the footsteps of Dominic Thiem, who received five wildcards throughout his early career and played in Kitzbühel eleven times, both Schwärzler (committed until 2028) and Germany’s Justin Engel (committed until 2027) are part of a growing tradition of supporting young talents through structured development programs.
This model has proved effective in the past. Some of today’s top ATP players, including Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, and Alexander Zverev, have all competed in Kitzbühel in their formative years. A similar agreement was even reached with Carlos Alcaraz in 2021, although his rapid rise to the ATP Top 10 rendered the deal void before he could appear.
Local flavor in the doubles draw
The tournament is also showcasing local connections in the doubles field. A wildcard has been awarded to Nico Hipfl, nephew of former ATP pro Markus Hipfl, and his Swiss partner Jerome Kym. Kym, who just claimed his first ATP main-draw victory in Gstaad, plays for the Kitzbüheler Tennis Club and trains under Markus Hipfl, further strengthening ties to the host venue.
