Germany dominate 2021 Super-Seniors World Team Championships
Germany dominated the 2021 ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships in a high-quality finish to the tournament in Mallorca, Spain.
Just as they had at the preceding Young Seniors and Seniors World Team Championships in September, the Germans proved the most successful nation again and came away from the Super-Seniors event with victory in five cups, while France claimed three and hosts Spain secured the remaining title.
With vocal support on centre court at the Beach Club Font de sa Cala, Spain conquered the Britannia Cup (M65) after winning a nerve-racking deciding doubles.
After splitting the singles encounters with Germany, the host nation won the decider 6-3 6-2 to take the title.
An impressive team performance saw France defeat Germany to take the Kitty Godfree (W65) title, winning both singles comfortably in a dominant victory.
The Jack Crawford Cup (M70) had better news for Germany, as Bernd Martin and Alfred Boeckl won both singles to crush home dreams. The French and German dominance continued as finals day progressed.
In the Althea Gibson Cup (W70), Reinhilde Adams and Heidi Eisterlehner raced to the title without dropping a set against Chile and Belgium. South American representatives Chile could not prevent another German win, but fought hard against France in the third place play-off.
The Bitsy Grant Cup (M75) produced an all French-German final in an extremely high-quality title match. Hans-Peter Balke defeated Serge Andres 6-2 2-6 6-4 in a gripping contest to give Germany the lead, before Peter Adrigan clinched the trophy with a straight-sets win over Eric Loliee.
The France Women’s 75 team took revenge over Germany in the Queens Cup. In what became one of the matches of the day in front of a large crowd at Font de sa Cala, the two top seeds won one singles each in a nervy encounter. Michele Bichon and Lawence Goulard got off to a fast start in the all-important deciding doubles, taking the first set 6-2.
The Germans fought back in the second set, but it was not enough to stop the French team taking the set 6-4, and with it the Queens Cup trophy.
Sweden attempted to break up the German-French monopoly in the Gardnar Mulloy Cup (M80), but Germany prevailed again with two singles victories.
In the round-robin format of the Doris Hart Cup (W80), France clinched the title with a convincing 3-0 win at Club Na Taconera. France’s narrow win over Germany earlier in the week proved to be the decisive match. The Germans won their remaining matches, but that was not enough to stop France taking the crown.
Finally, in the closest of all the events, Germany were crowned champions of the inaugural Lorne Main Cup (M85).
After Germany, Denmark and Spain all won and lost one tie 2-1, the group came down to sets won. The Germans’ 53.3% sets win-ratio was enough to see them win the title and cap an entertaining week of tennis in Spain.
Attention now turns to the ITF Super-Seniors World Individual Championships this week, with players battling it out for individual glory across the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events in Mallorca.
Follow all the latest results from the event here.
Full results across the nine cups at the team competition can be found below:
Britannia Cup (Men’s 65)
Kitty Godfree Cup (Women’s 65)
Jack Crawford Cup (Men’s 70)
Althea Gibson Cup (Women’s 70)
Bitsy Grant Cup (Men’s 75)
Queens Cup (Women’s 75)
Gardnar Mulloy Cup (Men’s 80)
Doris Hart Cup (Women’s 80)
Lorne Main Cup (Men’s 85)