Filip Misolic experienced both triumph and heartbreak during an eventful week at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
The 24-year-old Austrian delighted the home crowd by earning his first-ever main-draw victory at the ATP 500 event, defeating Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7–5, 7–6 (6) in a tense opening-round battle. However, his dream run came to an end in the round of 16, where world No. 7 Alex de Minaur proved too strong.
A Milestone Victory Against Carabelli
Misolic made a perfect start in his opening match, surging to a 4–0 lead with two early breaks before Carabelli mounted a comeback. Staying composed under pressure, the Austrian saved key break points at 4–4 and 5–5 before taking the first set 7–5. The second set remained tightly contested, with both players holding serve until a thrilling tiebreak decided the outcome. After two hours and 16 minutes, Misolic converted his second match point to seal a memorable win — his first-ever appearance in the Vienna round of 16.
“This win means a lot to me,” Misolic said afterward. “It’s an incredible feeling to experience this at home. I was really nervous at the beginning—when I led 4–0, I thought, this can’t be so easy. Then it got complicated, but with the crowd’s energy, I managed to push through. I felt like I could play ten more sets. Overall, it was a solid performance.”
De Minaur Too Strong in Round Two
In the next round, Misolic faced a much tougher challenge in Australia’s Alex de Minaur. The world No. 7 immediately set the tone, breaking Misolic’s serve in the opening game after a grueling ten-minute battle and repeating the feat early in the second set. Though Misolic created three break-point chances at 2–3, he couldn’t capitalize, and de Minaur maintained control to close out a straight-sets win.
“Even though I lost, there are many positives I’ll take from this match,” Misolic reflected. “Playing against a Top 10 player in front of the Vienna crowd is an honor. It’s tough when you get broken right away—it changes the rhythm. I had three break chances in one game, but at this level, it’s the small details that make the difference.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Misolic’s performance marked another important step in his career. The 50 ATP ranking points earned in Vienna will propel him into the world’s Top 90 for the first time — a milestone that could secure direct entry into the 2026 Australian Open main draw.
Next on his schedule are appearances at the ATP Challenger event in Bratislava and the ATP 250 tournament in Athens, before representing Austria in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against Italy on November 19 in Bologna.
The Graz native has enjoyed a strong season on the ATP Challenger Tour, capturing two titles in Prague, Czech Republic, and Poznan, Poland, bringing his career total to four.
