Interview with Wolfgang Thiem - These are the ideas behind the academy in Oberpullendorf
Burgenland will have its own tennis academy at the Sporthotel Kurz in Oberpullendorf. In terms of sport, this is led by Wolfgang Thiem, who explains in an interview with tennisnet.com why this training center is becoming important.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Mar 20, 2022, 09:58 am
tennisnet : Mr. Thiem. Austrian tennis fans know the Sporthotel Kurz primarily because the state championships are held there regularly. How did the idea come about to set up a tennis academy there?
Wolfgang Thiem : Talks about setting up something of this kind in Burgenland have been going on for the last three or four years. A few other locations were also up for discussion, but in the end the Sporthotel Kurz turned out to be the location with a good infrastructure. And where, thanks to Günther Kurz, there was also extreme enthusiasm for the project.
tennisnet : What is needed for an academy of this kind - and what needs to be expanded in the specific case?
Thiem : The huge plus at the Sporthotel Kurz is that the entire fitness area has been modernized over the past year and a half. The only thing that needs to be done now is to install hard courts. Günther jumped up there too. A total of six indoor hard courts are to be created - for the academy, but also for the local tennis school. The next step is to build outdoor hard courts. Everything is there that a performance center needs.
tennisnet : You act as academy director. What is the coaching situation like in Oberpullendorf?
Thiem : When the academy starts, there will definitely be a permanent trainer there. The plan envisages a head coach and two assistant coaches, plus a touring coach. The entire area of fitness training and physiotherapy is handled by the Sports Competence Center Burgenland.
tennisnet : Who is this academy primarily intended for? Finally, the state of Burgenland is involved.
Thiem : First of all, the Burgenlanders should be given the opportunity to receive training in their own state, from tennis kindergarten to tennis pros. If players from other federal states want to come, the only condition is that they join a club in Burgenland. Because the state of Burgenland supports the project. This is the only way we have been able to set the prices so that they are affordable for everyone. It wouldn't work without the country.
Wolfgang Thiem - "Oberpullendorf and Traiskirchen complement each other perfectly"
tennisnet : Can you formulate sporting goals at such an early stage?
Thiem : Our focus is on the 15 to 19 age group. That is exactly the group where I was not yet satisfied with the development. Because we could not cover this optimally in Traiskirchen. Because we had neither school nor boarding school. Then when a 15-year-old comes, I have to offer him a boarding school with a school. Now we can serve everything: the lowest, youngest part is denied by the Burgenland Tennis Association (BTV) as well as Alt-Erlaa, as well as the area ten to 14 years, which we also serve in Traiskirchen. And then there is the academy in Oberpullendorf from 3pm to 7pm. This can also apply afterwards. If someone wants individual solutions, such as players like Sebastian Ofner or Lucas Miedler, they can also be implemented in Traiskirchen.
tennisnet : So basically nothing changes in Traiskirchen?
Thiem : Traiskirchen and Oberpullendorf complement each other perfectly. For me it's about the fact that we can now offer everything. And then there is the financial support from the state of Burgenland in Oberpullendorf.
tennisnet : Lucas Miedler and Sebastian Ofner have been addressed. Do the two train permanently in Traiskirchen?
Thiem : Sebastian Ofner is there more often than ever because he was injured for so long. The comeback is announced for early April. Ofi has a current ranking of just over 200, he can play all challengers. And Lucas Miedler is also in regular training.
tennisnet : Is the next logical step for the academy in Oberpullendorf perhaps also to host a Challenger tournament? There has been movement in Austria in the recent past.
Thiem : I find youth tournaments or futures more interesting. I think Challenger is less important in this specific case. Because the players who are eligible to take part go everywhere anyway. The most important are the lower categories, both at junior and futures level. For Ofi it doesn't matter whether a challenger is in Austria or somewhere else, because he's there anyway. It would be great for him if there were five or six 250s for which he got wildcards. It is more important for the boys to make several futures.