!!!Tennissport

Tennis: During the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503-1564), 
several "Ballhaeuser" ("ballhouses") were built 
(hence the name "Ballhausplatz" square in Vienna), in which 
an early form of tennis and  Badminton were played. Up to the 
19%%sup th/%  century, tennis was strictly reserved for the 
aristocracy, and the earliest tennis clubs open to the public were 
founded around 1900 (Linz 1890, Vienna 1900). Between 1894 and 1914, 
the Austrian International Championships were held in Prague, and 
Austria occupied the 6%%sup th/%  position in the world rankings. In 
1902, the Austrian Lawn Tennis Association was founded in Vienna 
(1%%sup st/%  president: J. Ebermann) and the first professional 
competition (men and women) in Austria was held. F. Matejka and H. 
Redl were the most celebrated Austrian players between the wars. The 
first tournament after World War II was the 
"Alpenlaenderpokal" in Kitzbuehel, Tirol, organised by W. 
Foeger in 1945. In 1947, Austria was again allowed to participate in 
international tournaments. After 1967, the leading Austrian tennis 
player was H. Kary. A training centre was opened at Suedstadt near 
Vienna in 1975 and the Austria Tennis Pool, set up in 1974, was 
entrusted with the task of safeguarding the financial aspects of the 
sport (sponsoring). The most outstanding Austrian male tennis player 
in recent years has been T.  Muster, other successful players are H. 
Skoff and A. Antonitsch; famous women players are P. Schwarz-Ritter, 
B. Paulus and J. Wiesner. The most important tennis competitions in 
Austria are held in Kitzbuehel and in the Stadthalle multipurpose hall 
in Vienna.

!Literature
W. Foeger, Smash! Oesterreichs Aufstieg zur 
Tennisgrossmacht, 1992.


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