The 3rd Rackathletes Pickleball Cup, held on March 7–8, 2026 at the Ballsportgymnasium Vienna, highlighted the dynamic development of pickleball in Austria. 53 players accounted for 83 entries across six events and three skill levels. In addition to numerous Austrian participants, international guests from Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Vietnam, and the USA also took part, creating a high-level and truly international field.

The tournament was organized by Sportunion Rackathletes Austria with the support of Sportunion Vienna.

The photo album of the tournament can be found on Facebook: LINK. Photos may be shared free of charge with credit to © Racketista – The Racketsport Magazine and by tagging @racketista & @playpickleballat on social media.

High-level matches across multiple events

A total of six events across different skill levels were played – from beginner divisions to open categories featuring some of the country’s top players. The gymnasium at the Ballsportgymnasium was transformed into a pickleball arena with four tournament courts and one practice court. Whether for experienced players (DUPR 5.0+), beginners, or those in between, the tournament offered the right competitions for everyone – six in total. All medal winners are listed below:

Men’s Singles Open (DUPR 5.0+)

🥇 Thomas Knapp
🥈 Martin Kova
🥉 Jeff Yurk

Beginner Singles

🥇 András Marton
🥈 Thomas Steindl
🥉 Ivan Derventski

Mixed Doubles 3.5 (DUPR below 4)

🥇 Maureen Tan / Dániel Magyar
🥈 Helmut Hübsch / Soe Ching Ng
🥉 Corinna Eder / Kevin Müllner

Men’s Doubles 3.5 (DUPR below 4)

🥇 András Marton / Dániel Magyar
🥈 Laurin Suske / Lazar Gyurov
🥉 Gerhard Radits / Ivan Derventski

Beginner Doubles

🥇 Gerhard Radits / Florian Steflitsch
🥈 Dimo Chunchev / Mariya Vyunova
🥉 Robert Racz / Milan Racz

Men’s Doubles Open (DUPR 5.0+)

🥇 Thomas Knapp / Stefan Urban
🥈 Filip Markovic / Martin Kova
🥉 Peter Robic / Alex Stoklas

The mix of ambitious tournament players and newcomers created exciting matches and a vibrant tournament atmosphere.

“She Plays Pickleball” Try-Out Session

On Sunday morning, a try-out session as part of the project “She Plays Pickleball” was organized at the tournament venue at the Ballsportgymnasium. More than a dozen interested participants took the opportunity to try the sport for the first time. On a full-size court, they were able to rally and experience the dynamics and fun of the game.

The project, supported by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport, aims to encourage more women to play pickleball and attract new female players to the sport.

Learn more: Blog post: Kickoff for She Plays Pickleball in Vienna

Racketlon Unified: Mini Tournament with Three Sports

A special highlight on Saturday was a mini tournament as part of Racketlon Unified, where people with and without disabilities play racket sports together. The format combined DishTennis, badminton, and pickleball.

DishTennis provided two tables specifically for the event, which could also be used during breaks in the pickleball tournament. This created a diverse side program that highlighted the connection between different racket sports.

Pickleball Continues to Grow

The 3rd Rackathletes Pickleball Cup once again demonstrated how strongly pickleball is developing in Austria. International participants, full events, and many new players underline the growing interest in the sport.

Initiatives such as She Plays Pickleball and innovative formats like Racketlon Unified also help reach new target groups and further spread the sport.