“There are days when I regret my decision”

Because one thing is certain: Marion Viertler's professional career is over for the time being. But the Vinschger woman's decision raises questions, especially these days.

This week in St. Ulrich and then also in Wolkenstein, the Schlanderser is taking the chance to get a taste of professional life again in her home country. Despite missing qualification for the main draw on Monday afternoon at the $25.000 tournament in the Runggaditsch hall, Viertler showed that it was perhaps a mistake to have decided against a professional career at the beginning of 2021.

Viertler is still ranked 1164th in the WTA computer, lost 637:2, 6:4 to Katerina Kozarova from Serbia, number 6 in the world, but held on very well. The favorite played 2 games in a row after the 2:4, but then the Vinschgerin woman took the lead 2:0 in the 2nd set, made the break 3:3 and fended off two more match points at 3:5.

Marion Viertler now mainly plays open tournaments in her home country.

“Now the disappointment outweighs the disappointment because I saw that I had a chance,” said Viertler. “In the important moments, these players are better.” That’s the difference.

Viertler still plays tennis four times a week with coach Renato Ercolani, she led TC Meran from Serie B2 to B1 in June, played many open tournaments in the summer and often won, but she is no longer a professional. In February 2021 she drew a line. Completely surprising. “In the end I was often alone, and that didn’t help me either.” Marion Viertler On December 1, 2019, Viertler won her first ITF tournament in Cairo. As of February 8, 2021, she was number 803 in the world (Best Ranking). “I was on the road for the last time in January 2021. I came back from Antalya and was supposed to train at home for 2 weeks without playing a tournament. I took a week off, stopped playing tennis at all and realized that professional tennis wasn't for me. At least not back then. Constantly driving around, never being in one place for long, living out of a suitcase wasn't right for me. In the end, I was often alone, and that didn't help me either," Viertler says honestly. “There are days when I regret my decision, then days when I don’t regret it.”

Now the Matura is coming up She is now going back to school, completing the 5th grade at the WFO in Schlanders, and will graduate next summer after she stopped after the 3rd grade to concentrate on tennis. “Last year I started again in the 4th grade. I don’t know what I’ll do after that.”

On Monday evening she also played doubles in Ortisei. And with her club colleague Alessia Piccoliori from Val Gardena, she lost again against Kozarov and Katarina Jokic after a great fight and 2:03 hours with 5:7, 7:6 (6) and 7:10.

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“There are days when I regret my decision”

Marion Viertler is the same age group as Jannik Sinner and will only be 21 on Friday. She is also considered an exceptional talent. But the paths of the two South Tyrolean tennis hopes are drifting further and further apart.

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