Schöpf triumphs in the Racketlon: The brutal net roller decides!

Schöpf triumphs in the Racketlon: The brutal net roller decides!

On June 2, 2024, an exciting final of the Sport Austria Finals powered by Austrian Lotteries took place in the Reichenau Tennis and Squash Center. There Emanuel Schöpf and Michael Dickert competed against each other in the Racketlon. After four days of competition, the final ended in a dramatic draw of 71:71 points, with the individual disciplines ending as follows: Dickert won in table tennis with 22:20, Schöpf secured victory in badminton with 21:7, Dickert prevailed in squash with 21:18 and finally Schöpf won the decisive “rubber arm” match on the tennis court.

Emanuel Schöpf needed an impressive net roller, which he described as the 'most brutal' he has ever played. This was a special moment as Schöpf managed to beat Dickert, whom he had never been able to beat before, in this crucial phase and thus win his fourth singles title. “It was unbelievable,” said Schöpf after his victory, celebrating his first title since 2018-2020. Both finalists emphasized that the exciting final was an excellent advertisement for the sport of Racketlon.

A victory for Schöpf and Olsacher

What was particularly remarkable was that Schöpf's partner, Irina Olsacher, was also able to celebrate equal success. She won the women's singles title, her second consecutive title. Olsacher admitted she put pressure on herself to defend that title but was overjoyed with her victory. This success, in which they were both able to win the singles titles, was of great importance for the couple.

Schöpf, who discovered the Racketlon game during a U16 tournament, has a strong connection to the sport. In particular, he sees himself as an outsider in future encounters with Dickert, as he is considered to be in top shape and has no weaknesses. Nevertheless, Schöpf remains optimistic, emphasizing his strengths in badminton, tennis and table tennis, while he considers squash to be his weakest discipline.

Racketlon as part of Austrian sport

The Racketlon Federation Austria, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, has experienced an upswing in recent years and remains an integral part of the Sport Austria Finals. The development of the sport Racketlon in Austria is also supported by scientific work that documents the growing popularity and the high level of education of the players. According to an empirical study, players have a higher level of education compared to the Austrian average, regardless of whether they are active in a club or not.

The Racketlon Association, founded in 2004, now has 34 member clubs in all federal states. With an offering that combines the sports of table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis, Racketlon is attracting more and more people and is enjoying growing popularity. Almost all Racketlon players play at least one of the four sports as a hobby, and the fact that none of the four disciplines have lost members speaks for the success of Racketlon.

Overall, not only the recent successes of Schöpf and Olsacher, but also the general trend in racketlon show that this sport continues to flourish and is easily expanding its following. As Schöpf concluded, Racketlon is not just a sport, but also a part of his life.