Preview: 2025 ITF Masters World Team Champs for players aged 50-55+
The ITF Masters World Team Championships return to Lisbon for another year, with the 2025 edition seeing players aged 50 and above through to 55 and above compete in the Portuguese capital.
The festival of high-quality tennis will kick-off in Lisbon on Sunday 3 August as the annual showpiece event gets underway.
The World Team Championships, which conclude on 8 August, will see a total of 82 teams – from nations in every region across the globe – compete to become World Champions. Notable nations participating include Egypt, Israel and Brazil in addition to European heavyweights Portugal, Spain, France and Germany.
Held last year in Mexico City, the 2024 event saw four different nations take gold in the 50-55+ categories. These age divisions are notoriously strong and, combined with the popularity of Portugal as host for players and their families, have produced a predicably deep field.
In the women's events, Italy will hope to repeat their 2023 triumph by reclaiming the Maria Esther Bueno Cup (50+). The Italians, always dangerous in ITF Masters team competitions, narrowly missed out to an impressive Great Britain side in Mexico. With Spain and France posing a significant threat too, this Cup promises to be an exciting watch.
Italy will also be hoping to go one better in the Maureen Connolly Cup (55+) after they missed out to the USA in 2024. The USA return to defend their title in 2025, while a plethora of contenders including Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Australia and Netherlands will vie to dethrone the reigning champions.
On the men's side, Italy will again be in the mix to take home the crown in the Fred Perry Cup (50+) and Austria Cup (55+). The Italians managed what the women could not in the Fred Perry Cup in 2024, beating surprise finalists India 2-1 in the final. Italy return with a strong team but will face stiff competition from multiple teams, including last year's runners-up India, the USA, Australia and a number of European nations.
Spain are the pre-tournament favourites for the Austria Cup. Last year's gold medalists are hoping to defend their title with a strong returning team - yet the depth in this event promises another unpredictable week of high-level tennis. Italy, runners-up in Mexico City, will aim to join their female compatriots in going one better in 2025. USA, meanwhile, have put together a formidable team including former world individual champions, while Netherlands boast a former Top 10 ATP-ranked doubles player in their squad in the form of Tom Nijssen.
The 2025 ITF Masters World Individual Championships for players aged 50 and above through to 55 and above then take place the following week, from 9–16 August in Lisbon. The tournament will see many of the stars from the Teams competition go for individual glory, in addition to a host of other high-ranked players.