Lucas Neumayer suffers bitter exit at Salzburg Open as semi-finals loom

Just as unexpectedly, Lukas Neumayer's successful start at the Salzburg Open ended in the quarter-finals again on Friday night. The 21-year-old from Radstadt, the only Austrian representative left in the last eight, had to concede defeat to Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet 6:2, 4:6, 3:6 after a strong start. “Of course I'm very disappointed,” Neumayer said.

Rain can't dampen the mood.

Because the stage was set for another successful performance. Even a daytime downpour could not derail the tennis festival. Tournament chairman Gerald Mandl and marketing chief Philipp Schurghofer helped clean the mats and towels until the local hero appeared on time at 5.30pm in what was again the best tennis weather to the applause of around 800 spectators. At first the duel with the world number 240 neighbour went like a slippery slope. Neumayer dictated at will, leading 6:2, 2:0 and 40:15 with the chance of a double break. “If I can do that, the match is over. All I have to do is beat him and not let him go. That's tennis, the momentum can change very quickly,” Neumayer said angrily.

Too many missed opportunities, Neumayer “was his fault”

But in the third set he also went ahead by a break and then – with his back to the wall – missed a few chances to get back into the match, which were not successful due to very unforced errors. “It’s your fault,” says last year’s finalist, who will drop some 40 places to 280th. A setback in the rankings, but not in his development, says Neumayer: “More important to me than the points is the process of improving my game. And I was able to do that this week.” Indeed, the Salzburg player showed what is possible in the round of 16. “The clear goal remains to reach the top 100. I want to be there in two or three years,” he says.

No start in Kitzbühel: 'It's a shame'

Surprisingly, he won’t start in Kitzbühel this year. “The officials gave me the wildcard (for qualification) too late,” he says. “I had to call it that in other tournaments. It’s a pity, I would have loved to play in Kitz.” Fans and organisers would have loved to see him in the Volksgarten. That’s how the final weekend without the red-white-red plays out. “Of course it hurts, but I think people still get a taste of it,” says Mandl.