Inside Jannik Sinner's Vienna return

VIENNA—Vienna has caught Sinner fever! The top star of the Erste Bank Open lit up the Austrian capital on Monday, thrilling fans well before his first match. The World No. 2 will make his 2025 debut on Wednesday, when he faces Germany’s Daniel Altmaier at the ATP 500 event, which offers a total prize purse of €2,736,875.

Packed stands and media buzz

Sinner’s first practice session at the Marx Halle, one of the tournament’s match venues, was packed with enthusiastic fans eager to see the Italian star in action. After two hours on court, the 2023 Vienna champion stayed to sign autographs and take selfies, much to the delight of his supporters.

Following practice, Sinner headed to the Wiener Stadthalle for a full day of media duties. Six TV stations conducted interviews, exclusive social media content was produced, and Sinner spoke extensively at a press conference. The 24-year-old made it clear how special Vienna is to him.

“I have a lot of positive memories of this event. It gave me opportunities with wildcards many years ago, and I won here two years ago. I’m feeling good physically and mentally, and I’ll try to play my best tennis. I’m ready to serve here and hope for a great week,” Sinner said, noting that his parents are in Vienna to support him.

Home comfort and good vibes

Sinner also underlined the proximity to home as an advantage. “The tournament is not far - just a six-hour drive by car. Vienna is a beautiful event at the end of the season, and it’s special for my family, too. The crowd gives you extra energy when you’re tired or things aren’t going your way. Hopefully, the atmosphere will be just as good as in previous years.”

The Italian explained his decision not to represent Italy in the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, saying it was a team decision to gain an extra week of rest and preparation for next season. He also praised Austria’s rising star Lilli Tagger, the reigning French Open Junior champion: “She has the full package to reach the top of the game.”

From Centre Court to the kitchen

The excitement didn’t stop on the tennis court. On Monday evening, the spotlight shifted from the Centre Court to the kitchen at Vienna’s famous restaurant Plachutta Wollzeile, where the “Wiener Schnitzel Open” brought culinary flair to the Erste Bank Open.

Among the participants were Filip Misolic, Lorenzo Musetti, Lucas Miedler, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Joel Schwärzler, and Matteo Berrettini—and, of course, Jannik Sinner, whose presence added extra star power to the event.

With charm, humor, and plenty of competitive spirit, the tennis stars showed that their talents extend beyond the court. From breading and frying to plating and garnishing, the players handled the kitchen challenge impressively while keeping the atmosphere light and fun. In the end, Matteo Berrettini claimed victory in the culinary showdown, narrowly edging out Lucas Miedler and Lorenzo Musetti.

The mood was joyful, the plates were empty, and everyone agreed: it was an unforgettable night—Vienna-style.