It was a warm summer morning in July when I walked with eager steps onto the converted rugby field in Hungary Esztergom stepped onto the court. The 1st Teq Festival—another stop on the Teqball Tour, this time on grass. Together with my talented teammate Andrea Sommer from Salzburg, I was ready to compete in mixed doubles for the first time, take on the challenge, and create some unforgettable moments. I also competed in the Teqball Tour Esztergom 2023 along with Styrian footvolley player Daniel Neuhold in the men's doubles as well.
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Hamm & Sommer: The Up-and-Coming Teqball Duo?
Andrea Sommer—Rea for short—is the newest member of my club, the laketownRIDERS from Neusiedl am See, and she had just placed an impressive 5th in the women’s singles at the European Games. When we decided to compete in mixed doubles for the first time, we both felt that this could be a “perfect match” for the future.
The Highs and Lows of the Tournament
The tournament began with a tough match. The top Hungarian doubles team, consisting of Zsanett Janicsek (multiple world champion) and Martin Csereklye, was a tough opponent. Unfortunately, we were defeated in two sets. But this setback only made us even more determined. We made a statement with a commanding 12–5, 12–8 victory over Pawlak/Kosowska from Poland.
Our last Group Play, the decisive match to advance to the round of 16, was a roller coaster of emotions. We suffered a bitter 5–12 loss in the first set against Iva Burvalova (CZ) and Martin Biros (SVK). But in the second set, Rea and I gave it our all and triumphed with an impressive 12–3 victory. The third set was a closely contested match. It remained evenly matched for a long time but was ultimately lost 7–12, disappointingly, due to a few very lucky points by the opposing doubles team.
In the end, we finished in 17th place. We also both earned 240 World Cup points, and as a result, I’m ranked 458th in the world in mixed doubles for the first time.
A Lesson in Fair Play
During the tournament, I also had the opportunity to play men's doubles with Daniel Neuhold from Graz.
To put it briefly and bluntly, our opponents were simply too strong, so we just didn't stand a chance. The third match against the Slovak-Czech team of Biros and Herout, however, was particularly memorable.
With the score tied at 10-10 in the second set, I noticed the ball had touched the table. I could have kept quiet, but my gut told me to do the right thing. I admitted the mistake. Even though we lost that set 10–12, that moment was a true display of “sportsmanship” and was invaluable to me. It wasn’t just a victory for my personal growth, but also a sign that fair play comes before everything else. Many of my teammates and my coaches later said, “Many adults wouldn’t have admitted to that mistake…”
My Take – Teqball Tour Esztergom 2023
What I've learned from this experience is that sports aren't just about winning or losing—they're also about playing with fairness and character. That's what really matters.
Alex Hamm
That's why I'm looking forward to my next tournament appearances at the club tournament in Podersdorf on August 15, 2023, and at the Exhibition Tournament Late August 2023 in Paris. At the club tournament and in Paris, I'll be playing mixed doubles with Rea again. More information will be available soon on my website.
