On July 5 and 6, 2025, the town of Oberpullendorf in Burgenland hosted the 3rd Austrian Pickleball Championships – for the first time as an official side event of the Austrian Tennis National Championships. With exactly 100 entries across 9 events, the tournament set a new benchmark for pickleball in Austria. Despite sweltering summer heat, the weekend became a milestone for the Austrian pickleball community thanks to fair and high-level matches throughout. There was a live stream from Centre Court on both days of the tournament. In addition to the open division, senior competitions were held for the first time. The Austrian Youth Champions had already been determined one week earlier.
New Standards: The Championships Keep Growing
Over two days of competition, nine events were contested – from classic doubles formats to highly competitive singles categories. Saturday was dedicated to the open class doubles events, while Sunday saw the singles in the open class and, for the first time, the senior competitions. Especially impressive: Thomas Knapp, who crowned his birthday weekend (July 5) with three titles in singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles, earning him the title of player of the tournament. His doubles partner Stefan Urban also took home silver in singles. Last year’s champions Filip Markovic / Martin Kova had to settle for bronze this year.
The women also delivered strong performances. PFA Sports Director Ashley Simpson won the mixed title alongside Knapp, defeating Jasmin Primus and U.S. pro Prycen Haas in the final. Prycen has been active in the Hawaiian Pickleball community for several years. At the 3rd Austrian Championships, he not only challenged his opponents to reach their best but also generously shared his experience by helping other players train and prepare for the competition. His participation and support were a real asset to the event and the community. Jasmin was the most successful female player, claiming silver in mixed, gold in women’s doubles with Denise Hübsch, and silver in women’s singles. Newcomer Katharina Alten stood out with gold in singles and bronze in mixed doubles (with Filip Markovic) and women’s doubles (with Andrea King), while Corinna Eder took silver in doubles with Emily Humes and bronze in singles.
Thomas Knapp: “I am overjoyed to have achieved the triple at the Austrian Pickleball Championships. Huge thanks to my girlfriend Ashley for the great mixed matches and to my men’s doubles partner Stefan for the awesome games together. I am most proud of the mixed final, which Ashley and I were able to win despite being down a set and trailing 2:6. I’d also like to thank my parents, who were there to support me and celebrate my birthday.”
Medal Winners at a Glance
Men’s Doubles Open
- Thomas Knapp / Stefan Urban
- Prycen Haas / Peter Robic
- Martin Kova / Filip Markovic
Women’s Doubles Open
- Denise Hübsch / Jasmin Primus
- Corinna Eder / Emily Humes
- Katharina Alten / Andrea King
Mixed Doubles Open
- Thomas Knapp / Ashley Simpson
- Jasmin Primus / Prycen Haas
- Katharina Alten / Filip Markovic
Men’s Singles Open
- Thomas Knapp
- Stefan Urban
- Filip Markovic
Women’s Singles Open
- Katharina Alten
- Jasmin Primus
- Corinna Eder
Senior Premiere at the Austrian Championships
For the first time in 2025, senior competitions were also held at the Austrian Championships. Maureen Tan took gold in women’s doubles 50+ with Jessie Dai and in mixed doubles 50+ with Thomas Weis. Among the men, Marcel Weigl was the most successful athlete with gold in singles 50+ and in men’s doubles 50+ with Michael Wurdits.
Senior Medalists 50+
Men’s Doubles 50+
- Michael Wurdits / Marcel Weigl
- Yang Dai / Helmut Hübsch
- Werner Widauer / Thomas Weis
Women’s Doubles 50+
- Maureen Tan / Jessie Dai
- Liz Weare / Sandra Pribil
- Doris Rothenwänder / Heide Forman
Mixed Doubles 50+
- Maureen Tan / Thomas Weis
- Soe Ching Ng / Michael Wurdits
- Liz Weare / Lothar Winzer
Men’s Singles 50+
- Marcel Weigl
- Michael Wurdits
- Thomas Weis
Voices from the Sidelines
“These championships have taken pickleball in Austria to the next level. The courts and the overall setup were significantly better than last year. Being part of such a major event like the Tennis National Championships was a bold and important step for pickleball. The organization was also more professional. We’re learning every day,” said Peter Robic, President of the Pickleball Federation Austria (PFA). “I was especially happy about the participation of Prycen Haas, whose father emigrated from Austria to Hawaii. Prycen has been active in pickleball there for several years and pushed his opponents to peak performance at the 3rd Austrian Championships.”
PFA Sports Director Ashley Simpson: “The third Austrian Championships highlighted the exceptional quality and sportsmanship of players from across Austria, as well as those with Austrian heritage who traveled from abroad to compete. The addition of new categories, such as the 50+ Men’s Singles, provided more players with an opportunity to showcase their skills and reflected the growing interest in pickleball among different age groups. The tournament attracted a range of players, from newcomers to more experienced competitors, showing the sport’s steady growth in Austria.”
“Motivated to improve, players entered the tournament with determination, which was evident in the rising level of play. Notably, Corinna Eder made a strong debut by finishing third in singles and second in women’s doubles; Stefan Stangl and Christopher Winzer advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals; and Maureen Tan secured gold medals in both 50+ women’s and men’s doubles alongside her partners. These achievements highlight encouraging progress within the Austrian Pickleball community.”
“More than just competition, the Championships fostered a supportive environment where players learned from and encouraged one another. I was particularly impressed by the willingness of players to assist their opponents and fellow competitors, whether by helping them manage the heat, keeping score, or offering words of encouragement. Support extended beyond the courts as well, with those who could only attend on Sunday showing their enthusiasm by watching the live stream on Saturday. Overall, the event marks a significant step forward for the sport’s development in Austria, inspiring players to continue improving and aiming higher in future competitions while building valuable social connections within the community.”
Milestone: First Official Coaching Certificates Awarded
For the first time, the official PFA Coaching Certificates were awarded as part of the championships. The first certified instructors:
- Jasmin Primus
- Liz Weare
- Sebastian Eggert
- Peter Robic
An important step in building a structured coaching system for pickleball in Austria.
Inclusion in Action: Support from Lebensgroß
On Sunday, an inclusion project added a special touch to the tournament: The organization Lebensgroß supported scorekeeping during the senior events and helped with the awards ceremony. A wonderful symbol of unity through sport.
We Want Your Feedback!
To help us improve future championships, we’ve created a short satisfaction survey. We welcome feedback from players, spectators, and volunteers alike:
Foto-Galerie und Video
You can find the best moments, winners, and many impressions from the tournament weekend in our photo gallery on Facebook. The photos can be used free of charge with © Racketista – Das Racketsport Magazin. Please tag the PFA @playpickleballat and @racketista on social media when sharing the photos.
As in previous years, the 3rd Austrian Pickleball Championships were broadcast on Streamster. The games are available on demand:
Conclusion
With new champions, strong organization, and increasing visibility, the third edition of the Austrian National Championships marked the strongest appearance of pickleball in Austria to date. The community continues to grow – with passion, resilience, and elite performance.
