Lukas Neumayer: "My Challenger title will definitely come one day!"

Lukas Neumayer is considered one of the most exciting young talents in Austrian tennis. The 22-year-old from Salzburg has steadily climbed the rankings over the past few years and now stands on the verge of breaking through to the top of the ATP Challenger Tour. He has reached five Challenger finals so far but lost all of them. Yet, he remains optimistic: “Of course, that’s frustrating. But it’s also pretty cool to have made it to so many finals. The title will definitely come one day.”

Tennis from an early age

Born into a sports-loving family, Neumayer picked up tennis early on. “Both my mom and dad played tennis. I spent a lot of time on the court at a young age, and that’s where I discovered my love for the sport,” recalls the right-hander. Although he also tried football and golf, tennis was where he excelled. “Tennis was just what I was best at.”

To this day, his parents are passionate supporters and watch every match. “They’re both really into sports. My dad watches every single match I play. They also follow the bigger tournaments on TV. It means a lot to me that they’re so involved.”

Role models and early inspiration

Although Austrian legends Thomas Muster and Horst Skoff had already retired before Neumayer started playing, another Austrian played a key role in his development: Dominic Thiem. Like Neumayer, Thiem was coached for years by Günter Bresnik. “Dominic had a huge influence on my development. Watching him practice in Südstadt was always special. You could always pick up something just by observing him.”

Later, Neumayer had the chance to travel alongside Thiem on the Challenger Tour - and even beat him. In March 2023, he scored a straight-sets win over the 2020 US Open champion in Zadar, Croatia.

One of his most formative memories: regular visits to the ATP event in Kitzbühel, Tyrol. And, of course, watching Grand Slams on TV as a huge fan of Roger Federer.

I was a big Federer fan and watched all his matches. I was really sad when he retired, but I have lots of great memories.

A life full of sport - on and off the court

Sport plays a major role in Neumayer’s life, even off the tennis court. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf. But football is also a passion, especially Lionel Messi and Messi’s former club, FC Barcelona. “My aunt has lived in Barcelona for 20 years, and we visit her regularly. That’s how I became a Barca fan. I follow the games and try to visit the stadium at least once a year. Barcelona is also my favorite city.”

His love of warm weather fits the Mediterranean vibe - and tennis. “The hotter it is, the better. I prefer playing in heat, so I enjoy southern tournaments.”

And if rain disrupts a tournament schedule? “That’s annoying, but I’m here with a friend, so we pass the time playing chess or memory games,” he says during the Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup in Sassuolo, Italy. Does he always want to win, even then? “Of course. You always want to win - no matter what it is. That’s just the nature of an athlete.”

Favorite tournaments and team spirit in the Tennis Channel Bundesliga

Neumayer especially enjoys playing in Italy. “There are always lots of fans, the atmosphere is amazing. It’s the whole package.” He also thrives in the club environment of Germany's Tennis Channel Bundesliga — known as the most competitive tennis league in the world.

“It’s great to play on a team. We’re alone on tour most of the year, so the Bundesliga offers a great change of pace. Last year I played really well and only lost one match.” The Austrian played a key role for TC Großhesselohe, who celebrated their first-ever league title in 2024. Neumayer secured the decisive match point by winning the fourth singles rubber against Calvin Hemery.

So far, 2025 is shaping up well for the Salzburg native, with a semifinal showing at the Menorca Open and a final in Vicenza. “Compared to last year, things are definitely going better,” says Neumayer. “And now comes my favorite part of the year - summer!”

The big breakthrough, a Challenger title, still eludes him. But with passion, consistency, and drive, Neumayer has put himself in pole position. One thing seems clear: if he keeps going at this pace, it’s only a matter of time before he captures that first ATP Challenger crown.