Thomas Muster’s biggest prizes, including his iconic 1995 Roland Garros trophy, have successfully been auctioned as part of the ‘Champions of Vienna’ campaign.

The €244,500 raised will go to the LICHT INS DUNKEL emergency aid fund and benefit families in need. The ‘Champions of Vienna’ campaign was a significant highlight of the ‘Official Tennis Experience’, a celebration of the Erste Bank Open’s 50th anniversary last month.

“A sensational result that I would have never expected,” said Muster, who became the first Austrian to win a Grand Slam singles title in 1995. “My goal was to exceed the highest individual donation to date, but the fact that it has now more than doubled exceeds all my expectations.

“I’m particularly happy that we can help so many people that haven’t had it so good.”

_{^{Photo Credit: Florian Rogner Photography}}

As expected, Muster’s 1995 Roland Garros winner’s trophy raised the largest sum. All of the trophies will be handed over to their new owners personally by Muster during a meet and greet on the day of the gala for LICHT INS DUNKEL on 15 November.

“From day one, the enthusiasm in the ‘Official Tennis Experience’, where the trophies were on display for the first time, was palpable,” said Erste Bank Open tournament director Herwig Straka. “It was certainly not an easy and very emotional decision for Thomas to give away his biggest trophies, but looking at the amount raised, it was spot on.”