LINZ AG FROSCHBERG clinched their twelfth Austria Cup title with a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Gartenstadt Tulln in the final, though the journey was more difficult than expected. Tulln’s LIU Yuan shone with victories against Britt EERLAND and Ivana MALOBABIC. However, LINZ AG FROSCHBERG scored points through MALOBABIC, Andrea PAVLOVIC, and EERLAND. In the men’s final, hosts Baden will face Panaceo Stockerau. The opening match set the tone: LIU Yuan took a 1-0 lead against Linz’s top star EERLAND, missed five (!) set points in the second game, lost 14:16, but regained focus to win 3:1 and deliver an early surprise. “It was a surprise for me too. I had a lot of luck in the third set,” said the Austrian national champion modestly. EERLAND commented, “I was under pressure and Yuan capitalized on that.” MALOBABIC (3:1 against Nicole GALITSCHITSCH) and the newly crowned Croatian champion PAVLOVIC (walkover against Heike MILLER) gave Linz a 2:1 lead. LIU then delivered another brilliant performance, edging past MALOBABIC 3:2 to level the score at 2:2. But EERLAND secured the final match with a clear 3:0 win over GALITSCHITSCH, giving Linz the 3:2 overall victory and completing a dozen cup triumphs. Linz AG Froschberg now aims to seal the double with a Bundesliga final win against Kufstein on April 22. Linz AG President Günther RENNER, after lifting the new Austria Cup trophy, said: “We know Liu Yuan can play very well. It’s all the more unfortunate that Tulln didn’t compete with a full team. A walkover in a final, broadcast live on TV, isn’t good promotion. We must consider consequences for the future.” Austria Cup Final 4 in Baden – Results Women’s Final LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – GARTENSTADT TULLN 3:2 Men’s Final (Sunday in Baden) Badener AC – Panaceo Stockerau 2:3 Women’s Semifinals (Saturday in Baden) LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – Olympic Wien 3:0 GARTENSTADT TULLN – Indigo Graz 3:0 Men’s Semifinals (Saturday in Baden) Panaceo Stockerau – Sparkasse Salzburg 3:0 Khalid ASSAR – Tomas SANCHI 3:1 Austria Cup Champions – History Men 2012 – SVS Niederösterreich 2013 – SVS Niederösterreich 2014 – Weinviertel Niederösterreich 2015 – Weinviertel Niederösterreich 2016 – SG Stockerau 2017 – KSV HiWay Grill Kapfenberg 2018 – SPG Walter Wels 2019 – SG Stockerau 2020 – SPG Walter Wels 2021/22 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2023 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2024 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2025 – Panaceo Stockerau Women 2012 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2013 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2014 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2015 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2016 – TTC CarinthiaWinds Villach 2017 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2018 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2019 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2020 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2021/22 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2023 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2024 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG 2025 – LINZ AG FROSCHBERG
