Pickleball in Austria just reached an exciting new milestone with the grand opening of Racket Revolution, the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in the country on August 23rd and 24th 2025. The venue in Wiener Neustadt is designed to welcome players of all levels and provide a true home for the growing pickleball community.
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A Grand Opening with Big Names
To celebrate the occasion, Austrian tennis legend Dominic Thiem joined the festivities, playing an exhibition match alongside Thomas Adelbauer, David Saltman, and national team player Jasmin Primus. The partnership between Racket Revolution and Thiem Energy, Austria’s No. 1 energy community, was presented at the event.
Dominik Thiem: “I was very happy when I heard that the first pickleball facility was being built here in Wiener Neustadt, because it’s an incredibly growing sport that’s a lot of fun. The hall isn’t far from where I grew up. You’ll definitely see me here more often.”
Special thanks go to Thomas Adelbauer and Mike Saltman, whose tireless efforts brought great visibility to this milestone for pickleball in Austria.
Peter Robic, President of the Pickleball Federation Austria: “I’m very pleased that with Racket Revolution we now have such a high-quality pickleball hall in Austria. This paves the way for the sport to continue growing in this country.”
Beside the 1st Racket Revolution Open the opening weekend also included a national team workshop and a clinic with national team players, giving children, beginners, and even curious visitors from abroad, like guests from Malta, the opportunity to try pickleball for the very first time or build on their skills.
The opening weekend was covered by several Austrian media outlets:
A Tournament to Remember
With five courts, modern facilities, music, and live streaming, the new venue quickly showed it’s well-suited for tournaments and events of all kinds. Thanks to the warm hosting and organizational skills of Thomas Adelbauer – supported by his family – players and guests alike felt at home. A special touch came from the Adelbauer children Emma and Philipp, who helped with the prize-giving ceremonies. The first tournament at Racket Revolution set a strong foundation for future events.
Thomas Adelbauer, Managing Director of Racket Revolution Pickleball: “It was a fantastic opening weekend with lots of pickleball. It was nice to gather the community here and welcome so many new people. Having Dominic Thiem open the courts with me was a highlight.”
New Players and Strong Performances
One of the highlights of the tournament was the number of first-time competitors.
- In the beginner category, standouts included the father-son team of Mike and Dave Saltman, the duo of Vessi Gugliemo (Pickleball Salzburg chairwoman) with Michael Adelbauer, and newcomers Isabella Nake and Daniel Bigler and of course the winners of the beginner event Alex Stoklas and Michael Farkas.
- Stefan Stangl and Jan Schlorf, leaders of the new Pickle Flames Wiener Neustadt club, also made a strong impression, showcasing the level of play coming from their community.
- In mixed doubles, a round-robin format delivered close battles, with many matches going to three sets. A highlight was the Austrian tournament debut of Iris and David Perren, who immediately impressed with their performance.
- Standout performances also came from tournament newcomers Laurin Suske, Johannes Sgiarovello (Racketlon), Michael Farkas, Gökmen Kiyan (Padel) and Markus Tscheik (Volleyball), proving that pickleball’s inclusive nature makes it an easy fit for athletes of all backgrounds.
Tournament Results 1st Racket Revolution Open
Singles
- Thomas Knapp
- Stefan Urban
- Michael Wurdits
Beginner Doubles
- Michael Farkas and Alex Stoklas
- Jan Schlorf and Stefan Stangl
- Gökmen Kiyan and Pascal Ajdnik
Doubles
- Thomas Knapp and Stefan Urban
- Peter Robič and Michael Wurdits
- Michael Farkas and Alex Rieck
Mixed Doubles
- Thomas Knapp and Ashley Simpson
- Martin Kova and Katharina Alten
- Stefan Urban and Jasmin Primus
What’s Next
The future looks bright for pickleball in Austria. Racket Revolution is set to become the home base of the Pickle Flames club as well as a regular tournament venue on the Austrian calendar, offering players from across the country (and beyond) the chance to compete, connect, and grow the sport together.
The opening of Racket Revolution wasn’t just the start of a facility – it was the start of a movement. With more events, more players, and more opportunities on the horizon, Austrian pickleball has found a true home.
