BAD WALTERSDORF, September 17, 2025
The ATP Challenger Tour is back in Austria. After a rain-soaked Tuesday, the LAYJET Open in Bad Waltersdorf returned under brilliant sunshine for “Mega Wednesday” — and the Austrian crowd had plenty to cheer and groan about on Center Court.
First up, local wildcard Joel Schwaerzler delighted fans with a composed 7–5, 6–1 first-round win over Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, who had entered the main draw as a lucky loser. The 18-year-old from Vorarlberg raced to a 5–2 lead with two breaks, briefly allowed Stebe back to 5–5, then broke again to close the opening set. In the second, Schwaerzler dominated from the start and converted his first match point to secure victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
Home advantage
The 19-year-old Schwaerzler downs Stebe 7-5, 6-1 on home soil in Bad Waltersdorf.#OnTheRise pic.twitter.com/prSmkyEKVI
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 17, 2025
“That’s exactly how I want my game to look,” he said afterwards. “I hope to still be here on Sunday — and not just as a spectator.”
Later, No. 3 seed Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain defeated Austrian qualifier Dennis Novak 6-3, 6-1 in the opening round. “The scoreline is clear, but there were quite a few tight games. With a bit more luck it could have gone differently,” Novak reflected.
Top seed Pedro Martinez, who had recently beaten Holger Rune at the Davis Cup, was forced to retire. The Spaniard trailed German qualifier Marko Topo 6-1, 3-0 when he took a medical timeout for a right thigh problem and, after trying to continue, pulled the plug. Topo, who had qualified by defeating Janis Graski, thus advanced to the last 16 of the ATP Challenger Tour 125 clay-court event in Styria.
Carreno Busta fights past Neumayer
In other action, Spanish veteran Pablo Carreno Busta was pushed to the limit by Austrian Lukas Neumayer but ultimately prevailed 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 after two hours and 17 minutes. Neumayer, ranked 174th, led 5–3 in the opening set before dropping seven games in a row. He rallied in the second, breaking at 5–4 to level the match, but Carreno Busta’s break for 4–2 in the decider proved decisive. The former world No. 10 sealed victory on his first match point with an ace.
