A Day for the Tennis Stars of Tomorrow
The youngest tennis fans took centre stage at the spark7 Next Gen Day powered by Stadt Wien on Monday. At the Wiener Stadthalle, they enjoyed games, fun, interactive activity stations and plenty of tennis action as part of the 2026 Erste Bank Open.
The kids had the opportunity to put their sporting abilities to the test, get creative, try digital challenges and experience the tournament stars up close. The tournament day on Austria’s National Day became a special experience for the next generation of tennis fans.
The Best Photos from the spark7 Next Gen Day
Discover the best moments, the most exciting challenges and plenty of smiling faces in our full photo gallery.
📸 View All PhotosMonday Belonged to the Kids
Traditionally, tournament Monday at the Erste Bank Open is dedicated to the youngest visitors. In 2026, an exciting and entertaining afternoon programme once again awaited them on 26 October, Austria’s National Day.
One of the special highlights was the children’s press conference with Austrian Davis Cup hero Jurij Rodionov. The young reporters asked their own personal questions and received open, honest and humorous answers about the life of a professional tennis player. Afterwards, Rodionov also took plenty of time to fulfil their autograph requests.
The 2026 Programme at the Wiener Stadthalle
At a wide range of activity stations, the kids put their skills, speed and creativity to the test. At the same time, they tried to collect as many stamps as possible on their personal stamp cards.
Anyone who visited almost all the stations and collected the corresponding stamps was able to pick up a special surprise from the Erste Bank stand.
AI Drawing Robot
Personal portraits drawn by a robot
After taking a photo at the touchscreen, AI transformed the image into a drawing. A real robotic arm then recreated the personal portrait live on paper.
Serve Challenge
The search for the fastest serve
At the Serve Challenge, the kids discovered how many kilometres per hour they could register on the speedometer and compared their results with the serving speeds of the professionals.
Mini Court
Centre Court – only smaller
On the Mini Court, the young tennis fans were able to let off steam and play a few hard-fought points against other kids.
Speed Challenge
Ready, set, go!
This station was all about speed. The kids tried to complete the obstacle course as quickly as possible and set new personal bests.
Target Practice
A test of skill
Combining ability, concentration and a little bit of luck, the participants attempted to hit all three target areas.
Prinker Tattoo Station
Small works of art on their skin
At the Erste Bank stand, the kids could have a temporary tattoo printed on their arms, choosing from a range of designs or creating their own ideas.
Photo with the Trophy
Next Gen Champions in front of the camera
The young fans were able to pose with the official trophy that will be presented to the Erste Bank Open champion on Finals Sunday.
Erste Bank Open Screen Slam
Smartphones became tennis controllers
During the digital tennis match at the Erste Bank stand, the kids’ smartphones became controllers as they played together on the giant screen.
Surprise
A reward for dedicated stamp collectors
Those who visited the activity stations and almost completed their stamp cards were able to collect a well-earned surprise from the Erste Bank stand.
