Review of the 1st Pickleball Ostermiething Open

The 1. Pickleball Ostermiething Open, held on April 6 and 7 in Riedersbach, was an exciting event for all participants. Organized by Pickleball Ostermiething and supported by the local club, ATSV Trimmelkam, this tournament marked the first major pickleball event in the region. “I am delighted that ATSV Trimmelkam has welcomed us Pickleballers here in the Europameisterhalle Riedersbach and given us the opportunity to hold our first tournament,” Heide Forman commented on the successful event, which featured sweet and savory cakes, other snacks, and both hot and cold beverages provided by the organizers.

40 Percent Women Participation

Peter Robic, the president of the Pickleball Federation Austria (PFA), was thrilled with the new tournament location and the wide geographic participation: “A new tournament location on the map of Austria is very pleasing. It’s great to see participants from Vorarlberg to Vienna coming to Riedersbach to compete. Thanks to everyone who came here. And thanks to the organizers—the hospitality was just great.” Five competitions were held with a total of 51 entries; remarkably, 40 percent of the participants were women.

Austria Competes in Ostermiething

The tournament attracted a variety of pickleball enthusiasts from across the country, highlighting the growing popularity of this sport in Austria. On Saturday, April 6, Hanna Stiegler and Jakob Seilern celebrated their victory in the Open Doubles Beginner competition (Category 1-3), ahead of Nejko Topcagic and Markus Eder. Heide and David Forman took third place, with Doris Rothenwänder and Sascha Schett narrowly missing the podium. The Open Singles competition (Category 3.5+) was also held on Saturday. Former tennis pro Martin Schäffl (Pickleball Vorarlberg) triumphed over PFA Sports Director Thomas Knapp and Martin Kova (both Sportunion Rackathletes Austria).

The second PFA national team training also took place on Saturday. Thanks to support from ProKennex, new paddles could also be tested.

Advanced Competitions

On the second day of the tournament – April 7 – the advanced doubles were played. In the women’s doubles (Category 3.5+), Jasmin Primus/Ruth Schäffl (Sportunion Rackathltes Austria/Pickleball Vorarlberg) prevailed over Ashley Simpson/Barbara Szabo (1. Wiener Pickleball Verein) and Sabrina Juhn/Jelena Ullmann (Pickleball Ostermiething). The duo Ashley Simpson/Thomas Knapp (1. Wiener Pickleball Verein/Sportunion Rackathltes Austria) dominated the mixed doubles (Category 3.5+). Ruth and Martin Schäffl (Pickleball Vorarlberg) took second place, and Jasmin Primus/Peter Robic (Sportunion Rackathltes Austria) third. The Open Doubles competition (Category 3.5+) was won by Martin and Nicolas Schäffl (Pickleball Vorarlberg) ahead of Thomas Nadymacek/Thomas Knapp (1. Wiener Pickleball Verein/Sportunion Rackathltes Austria) and Alexander Rieck/Peter Robic (Sportunion Rackathltes Austria).

The tournament brackets can be viewed on Rankedin.