Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2026

Austria's largest women's tennis tournament will take place from April 5 to April 12, 2026, at the Design Center. It will be a magnificent anniversary! The most significant women's sports event in Austria will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026 and will shine with a spectacular setup. The Upper Austria Ladies Linz will be held on clay for the first time from April 5 to April 12, 2026, offering fans a whole new tennis experience.

WTA history made in Linz/Upper Austria (1991 - 2026) Congratulations from Billie Jean King.

With this, the Upper Austria Ladies Linz continues its successful tradition as the second oldest indoor tournament on the WTA Tour. From Martina Navratilova to Venus and Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, and the current number one Aryna Sabalenka, a total of 19 world number ones have competed at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz - a true success story! A special congratulatory message for the upcoming anniversary was already sent by tennis pioneer Billie Jean King, who sent a video message to Sandra Reichel: "Congratulations on the anniversary. Thank you for everything you have done for women's tennis and the WTA. All the best for the next 35 years!" said King, who was one of the founders of the WTA in 1973.

Top 10 player Ekaterina Alexandrova aims to defend her title - Austrian women on the rise.

The winner of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2025, Ekaterina Alexandrova, has already confirmed her participation in the anniversary tournament. The 30-year-old triumphed in February in a high-class final against Dayana Yastremska, marking the beginning of what is likely the best year of her career. Alexandrova will be competing in Linz for the ninth time next April. "I always feel at home in Linz and I am already looking forward to returning next year and trying to defend my title. It will definitely be something very special to play on clay for the first time in this beautiful hall and in front of the great audience," Alexandrova looks ahead.

Austrian tennis women are also currently on the rise: With Julia Grabher, Sinja Kraus, and young talent Lilli Tagger, three players are on a successful path internationally. Grabher recently won a WTA 125 tournament in Florianopolis (Brazil) and has returned to the top 100. Sinja Kraus is on the verge of breaking through this barrier for the first time. The Viennese player recently won her first WTA 125 tournament in Colombia. And then there's the 17-year-old Lilli Tagger, who was recently named Austria's Young Athlete of the Year. Tagger won the girls' competition at the French Open in Paris in June. In November, she participated in her first WTA tournament and sensationally reached the final. "I am incredibly pleased with the upward trend among Austrian players. This is an immensely important signal for women's tennis in Austria," explains tournament director Sandra Reichel.

Sports capital and sports center. The Upper Austria Ladies Linz will kick off next year on Easter weekend with the qualification on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. The tournament final will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026. On this day, Upper Austria and Linz will become the sporting center of Austria. Before the final of the WTA 500 tournament, the Linz Marathon will take place in the capital of Upper Austria on that Sunday. The organizers are already in close communication to achieve optimal coordination of both events.

More than just a tennis tournament. The Upper Austria Ladies Linz will also focus on numerous initiatives in the areas of promoting women's sports, youth, inclusion, and sustainability in 2026 as part of its four-pillar strategy. Continuations of the women's sports conference "Advantage Ladies," the children's initiative "1,000 tennis rackets for 1,000 girls," and an inclusion day with a wheelchair tennis exhibition are already in the planning stages.