Fortune did not favor local hero Werner Schlager in the draw of the Austrian Open (21 – 25 September).

 

For the tournament in the homeland of the 2003 World Champion in the Werner Schlager Academy located in the Multiversum in Schwechat he was randomly assigned as the number 17 seed to play a qualifier in the first round.

 

However, in the next round he plays no less than the reigning World Champion Zhang Jike.

The Chinese showed his top form in the past Chinese Super League, which he finished with an impressive won-lost record of 26:5, ranking first in these results.

 

Chen Weixing, afixed a 19 seeding, is scheduled after his first match to play German Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the round of 32.

 

In the women Li Qiangbing and freshly baked Top 12 winner Amelie Solja are slated to play a wildcard in the main competition.  Doubles pairings are representing the home country in the men with Gardos/Habesohn and the women with Li Qiangbing/Galitschitsch in the qualifying rounds.

 

Because of a stubborn abdominal muscle injury, Rober Gardos canceled his singles event and will only play doubles.  “The challenge in the doubles is much lower than in singles, and also I have Danny (Habesohn) and we have a good chance of qualifying for the Pro Tour year-end final, with eight pairings.”  The reason for this is the summer in Schwechat for these Austrians.

 

The seeded players fall into one tournament on Friday, for all other Austrians the event begins on Wednesday morning with the qualification round.  


The current timetable set of Austrians:

Men's singles:
1.Rd.: Werner Schlager - qualifier Friday, 15.30 clock
Chen Weixing - qualifier Friday, 15.30 clock

Women's singles:
1.Rd. Li Qiangbing - qualifier Friday, 11.00 clock
Amelie Solja - qualifier Friday, 11.00 clock

Men's doubles:
1.Rd.: R.Gardos / D.Habesohn - qualifier Friday, 20.30 clock

Women's doubles:
1.Rd. Li Qiangbing / N.Galitschitsch - indoor qualifier Friday, 20.00 clock

 

 

Wolfgang Paulik

Presse ÖTTV

 

 

Detailed information on the ITTF Pro Tour Austrian Open you can find at www.tt-austrianopen.com