LINZ AG FROSCHBERG clinched their twelfth Austria Cup title with a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Gartenstadt Tulln in the final, though the journey was more difficult than expected. Tulln’s LIU Yuan shone with victories against Britt EERLAND and Ivana MALOBABIC. However, LINZ AG FROSCHBERG scored points through MALOBABIC, Andrea PAVLOVIC, and EERLAND. In the men’s final, hosts Baden will face Panaceo Stockerau.
The opening match set the tone: LIU Yuan took a 1-0 lead against Linz’s top star EERLAND, missed five (!) set points in the second game, lost 14:16, but regained focus to win 3:1 and deliver an early surprise.
“It was a surprise for me too. I had a lot of luck in the third set,” said the Austrian national champion modestly.
EERLAND commented, “I was under pressure and Yuan capitalized on that.”
MALOBABIC (3:1 against Nicole GALITSCHITSCH) and the newly crowned Croatian champion PAVLOVIC (walkover against Heike MILLER) gave Linz a 2:1 lead. LIU then delivered another brilliant performance, edging past MALOBABIC 3:2 to level the score at 2:2. But EERLAND secured the final match with a clear 3:0 win over GALITSCHITSCH, giving Linz the 3:2 overall victory and completing a dozen cup triumphs. Linz AG Froschberg now aims to seal the double with a Bundesliga final win against Kufstein on April 22.
Linz AG President Günther RENNER, after lifting the new Austria Cup trophy, said: “We know Liu Yuan can play very well. It’s all the more unfortunate that Tulln didn’t compete with a full team. A walkover in a final, broadcast live on TV, isn’t good promotion. We must consider consequences for the future.”
Austria Cup Final 4 in Baden – Results
Women’s Final
LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – GARTENSTADT TULLN 3:2
- Britt EERLAND – LIU Yuan 1:3
- Ivana MALOBABIC – Nicole GALITSCHITSCH 3:1
- Andrea PAVLOVIC – Heike MILLER 3:0 w.o.
- Ivana MALOBABIC – LIU Yuan 2:3
- Britt EERLAND – Nicole GALITSCHITSCH 3:0
Men’s Final (Sunday in Baden)
Badener AC – Panaceo Stockerau 2:3
- Eric GLOD – David SERDAROGLU 3:0
- Snehit SURAVAJJULA – Khalid ASSAR 3:2 (Decider 11:5)
- Dastan KENZHIGULOV – Aidos KENZHIGULOV 1:3
- Eric GLOD – Khalid ASSAR 0:3
- Snehit SURAVAJJULA – David SERDAROGLU 0:3
Women’s Semifinals (Saturday in Baden)
LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – Olympic Wien 3:0
- Britt EERLAND – Saad ALAA 3:1
- Ivana MALOBABIC – Yousra HELMY 3:0
- Phatsaraphon WONGLAKHON – Olena PENTIUK 3:1
GARTENSTADT TULLN – Indigo Graz 3:0
- LIU Yuan – Larissa Katharina REGNER 3:0
- Nicole GALITSCHITSCH – Chiu-Ying YANG 3:1
- Heike MILLER – w.o. 3:0
Men’s Semifinals (Saturday in Baden)
Panaceo Stockerau – Sparkasse Salzburg 3:0
Khalid ASSAR – Tomas SANCHI 3:1
- Aidos KENZHIGULOV – Husein SALIMOV 3:0
- Tarek AL SMAHOURY – w.o. 3:0
- Badener AC – SPG Linz 3:0
- Eric GLOD – LIU Zhenlong 3:1
- Snehit SURAVAJJULA – Amalraj Anthony ARPUTHARAJ 3:2
- Dastan KENZHIGULOV – Tobias TISCHBERGER 3:1
Austria Cup Champions – History
Men
2012 – SVS Niederösterreich
2013 – SVS Niederösterreich
2014 – Weinviertel Niederösterreich
2015 – Weinviertel Niederösterreich
2016 – SG Stockerau
2017 – KSV HiWay Grill Kapfenberg
2018 – SPG Walter Wels
2019 – SG Stockerau
2020 – SPG Walter Wels
2021/22 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt
2023 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt
2024 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt
2025 – Panaceo Stockerau
Women
2012 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2013 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2014 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2015 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2016 – TTC CarinthiaWinds Villach
2017 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2018 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2019 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2020 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2021/22 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2023 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2024 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
2025 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
