Four nations victorious at 2025 ITF Masters World Team Champs (50-55+)
Hosted this year in Lisbon, Portugal, the 2025 edition of the ITF Masters World Team Championships for players aged 50 and above through to 55 and above saw 82 teams from 30 nations compete. They all had the same ambition: a World Championship gold medal.
An array of ITF Masters stars represented their countries in the Portuguese capital, including a number of former ATP and WTA players.
With home hopes gone, finals day saw four different nations win across the four cups. France had teams competing in both 50+ finals, while Germany and the Netherlands also had teams in two finals.
Reigning champions Italy had already been knocked out in the Fred Perry Cup (M50), as European heavyweights France and the Netherlands battled it out. Serial world champion Benoit Halle got Les Bleus off to the perfect start, beating Bart Beks 6-1 6-1.
However, the Dutch would not give in easily as Marcus Hilpert played some scintillating tennis to take the first set against Xavier Audoy. A close second set followed, but Hilpert could not close the match out as Audoy rallied to take the set 7-5. The Frenchman proved too strong in the decider, winning 6-2 to clinch the title for France.
The Maria Esther Bueno Cup (W50) would also see a new winner this year, with defending champions Great Britain knocked out in the quarter-finals. Their conquerors, France, hoped to replicate the men but faced a formidable Spanish team.
In a thrilling contest that finished at 7pm local time, France and Spain split the singles to leave everything on the deciding doubles rubber. Noelia Perez-Penate performed imperiously to take down Cecile Lucas 6-2 7-5, before French number one Caroline Dhenin recovered from a tough opening set to win 0-6 6-2 6-3 against Paula Cabezas.
With the title coming down to the doubles in front of a healthy crowd, it was Spain who held their nerve when it mattered. Cabezas and Perez-Penate wrapped up a clinical 6-2 6-2 win to seal victory for the Spanish.
The final of the Maureen Connolly Cup (W55) proved a more straightforward affair. Germany, who narrowly defeated Austria in a nail-biting semi-final tie, rode the wave of momentum in the final against the Netherlands - who were attempting to go one better than the M50 team.
In the first singles, Anja Schippan ensured Germany got off to the perfect start with a dominant 6-1 6-2 win over Annemiek Wissink. The Germans were not in the mood to let up, as Anke Wurst swept to a 6-3 first set against Dutch number one Eveline Hamers. Wurst only grew stronger as the match went on, ultimately winning the second set 6-1 to clinch the gold medal for the Germans.
It ended a frustrating day for the Netherlands, who came up just short in the M50 and W55 Cups - but the Dutch can still be proud of an excellent week.
The USA, always so strong across the age groups, were represented in the Austria Cup (M55) final against a strong Germany side.
In the number two singles, Dana Gill kicked the day off in perfect fashion for the USA, defeating Frank Potthoff 6-3 6-3 in a closely contested match. This left world number one and reigning World Individuals champion Eoin Collins in control of the USA's destiny - a dangerous position for the Germans to be in.
Ultimately, Collins was too strong for German number one Oliver Joehl, sealing victory for the USA with an impressive 6-1 6-2 win. Collins went undefeated throughout the week and will be difficult to stop, as the American looks to retain his Individuals title from 2024.
Attention now turns to the ITF Masters 50-55 World Individual Championships, taking place 9-16 August, when players will battle it out for individual glory across the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events in Lisbon.
Click the links below for all 50-55 Team Cup results:
Click here for the 50-55 Individual draws and results
Keen to be a part of future ITF World Championships throughout the age categories from 30 – 90+? Find out how you can register for the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour here.