When it came to the next big step in the future of the Erste Bank Open, the team behind the ATP 500 delved deep into Vienna’s past.
The Erste Bank Open, an indoor hard court event uniquely held in two locations, had a new tournament location this year: the historic Marx-Halle, a building that served as the Austrian capital’s main livestock market for 120 years before being repurposed as an event venue.
Over the past ten days, the Marx-Halle has hosted qualifying and main draw matches for both singles and doubles at the Erste Bank Open. For tournament director Herwig Straka, the new venue is a high-quality addition that fits in perfectly with the event’s old Center Court venue, the Wiener Stadthalle, where Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev will face off in a blockbuster championship match on Sunday.
“We found Marx-Halle and we knew it was a great venue because there is enough space,” Straka told ATPtour.com when asked about his tournament’s motivations for a new second venue. “It’s the same conditions as the Stadthalle and we can do what we always try to do: expand, organize activities for children and families. Then we translated it into the idea of fans [being able to purchase] a ground ticket.”
During the previous four editions of the Erste Bank Open, the second venue of the tournament was a temporary building on the Heumarkt, a square in the center of Vienna. Straka says the move to the Marx-Halle was motivated by a clear set of goals, and the feedback he received during the tournament suggests he and his team have achieved them.
“[The clearest improvement] is the number of courts,” says Straka from the Marx-Halle, which has two competition courts and one practice field and can accommodate up to 25,000 fans. “The possibility of organizing a wheelchair event now at a professional level. Maybe we can add more events in the future. It’s space and real indoor playing conditions. That is the main difference and improvement [from the Heumarkt].”
Top seed Jannik Sinner during training in the Marx-Halle during the Erste Bank Open 2025. Photo credit: e-motion/Stefan Strasser
The number 16 in the PIF ATP rankings Alexander Bublik, as well as other Top 40 stars Francisco Cerundolo, Flavio Cobolli, Tomas Machac, Alex Michelsen and Corentin Moutet are among those who participated in singles at the Marx-Halle this past week. It has also functioned as the main practice facility for all players competing in the stacked ATP 500.
“We wanted to improve the quality for the players [with our new venue]”, says Straka. “It feels exactly the same one on one as in the Stadthalle. We’ve had brilliant feedback. All players, Jannik, Sascha, practiced there. We wanted to create that kind of feeling, and we succeeded.”
In addition to ensuring players are taken care of, Straka’s other primary concern when planning the Marx-Halle venue was visiting fans. He cites the more “personal” up-close experience available to tennis fans as a clear plus.
“The fans can get very close to top players and breathe and feel much more than on a large center court,” said Straka. “The energy of the players and their play, also in practice. There are many tennis fans there who actively play with themselves, so for them, seeing Jannik’s training, for example, is a great experience.”
“I was very proud of the tennis in the city concept [from previous years]but at some point you have to be ready for the next step and to improve. This is the next step.”
Fans can enjoy the practice courts in the Marx-Halle up close. Photo credit: e-motion/Stefan Strasser
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