8. October 2024
© APA/PATRICK KOVARIK
50 years of tennis in the Wiener Stadthalle: For the organizers of the Erste Bank Open, which begins on October 19th, reason enough for a large exhibition in the Stadthalle F with rarities from five decades. As a highlight, Thomas Muster’s most important trophies can be admired for the first and last time shortly before an auction in aid of “Licht ins Dunkel”. The APA was at the preliminary premiere on Tuesday evening.
Numerous celebrities, including the two-time Vienna winner Jürgen Melzer, Stefan Koubek and ex-Vienna finalist Andreas Haider-Maurer, examined the exhibition, which is worth seeing, in advance. But the top star that evening was the tournament ambassador: Thomas Muster guided us through the exhibits with humorous words and stories about many of his successes.
The wax figure of Madame Tussauds by Muster can also be admired. To mark the anniversary, the side events of which are entitled “Champions of Vienna”, there will also be a separate merchandising collection with exclusive clothing and collectibles.
Exclusive photos and iconic pieces of clothing can also be seen, and there are exhibits from Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, among others. The focus, however, is on patterns and also on Dominic Thiem, who is saying goodbye to professional sports in two weeks.
As expected, the famous “Coupe des Mousquetaires” for the Roland Garros singles winner attracted the most attention at the pre-premiere. Thomas Muster, who became the first Austrian to win an individual major tournament in 1995, was also a bit sentimental.
“On the one hand, it’s good because 50 years of tennis are being celebrated in Vienna. On the other hand, you come to a point in life where you think about what to do with the trophies. “I carry the successes and emotions with me and I will take that to the grave,” explained Muster.
“The successes also include the trophies, behind which there is sweat, anger, joy and many other emotions. When I had the trophies back in my hand, I remembered a lot of things. Now my trophies are going to someone who might have been watching back then, but at the same time you can do something good,” added the now 57-year-old Styrian and admitted, “It’s not that easy to give it all away because there are a lot of emotions and emotions behind the trophies There are memories.”
During the duration of the exhibition, the trophies will be auctioned off via the Aurena platform (www.aurena.at). The starting price for the French Open trophy, for example, is 1,000 euros, although a much higher return is expected. Included in the price (for all Muster’s exhibits) is not only a meet & greet, but also a meal with the former world number one.
At Muster’s request, the sum of all exhibits will be handed over to the Ö3 Christmas Miracle as part of “Light in the Dark” to benefit families in need. The goal is to hand over the highest individual check achieved so far. “Internationally, between $100,000 and $150,000 are paid for a Grand Slam trophy, but it’s not about that. I am an ambitious person and would like to hand over the biggest check,” said Muster in the APA interview. The Styrian knows that the highest individual donation to date was 115,000 euros. “I hope it is recognized and enough is raised for people who are not doing so well.”
Muster has a whole series of memories associated with the town hall tournament. He was a player in the town hall in the 1980s and 90s. “Then the last match against Dominic (2011, note). It’s crazy how things have developed. You can experience this journey through time here.”
