The ITF Masters World Team Championships in the 65 and over through to the 85 and over age category get underway on Sunday in Mallorca before the Individual World Championships (65 and over through to 90 and over) take centre stage from 14 October. Matt Byford, the ITF’s Head of Juniors and Masters Tennis, previews the showpiece events. 

We have had two amazing ITF Masters World Championships in Turkiye and Portugal already this year, but now it is the turn of those aged 65 and over through to 90 and over to play on the global stage.

Those descending upon Capdepera in Mallorca will have been watching the other World Championships this season and getting increasingly excited for their annual showpiece event. The wait, however, is nearly over with their team event getting underway on Sunday.

For players in these age categories, it has been an unusually long period since their last World Championships which took place in May 2022 in Florida. Theirs was the first World Championships of 2022, while it is the last of 2023.

Scheduling events of this nature is not entirely within our hands and does depend on the applicant nation and the calendar and scheduling of host venues, which means dates can differ from year to year.

Looking ahead to 2024, the 65 and over age group will not have long to wait for their next World Championships as theirs will be the first to take place next season when they head to Ali Bey Club in Antalya, Turkiye in March.

Capdepera in Mallorca and the Ali Bey Club in Antalya are two amazing venues to play our sport and it is not an exaggeration to describe them as Meccas of ITF Masters Tennis. It is quite a billing, but deserved.

The Mallorca Open, an MT1000 event, is currently taking place in Capdepera, and this not only acts as a wonderful prelude to the World Championships, but also shows the stature of the venue.

This will be the first ITF Masters World Championships held in Mallorca since 2021, which was the first time the island had hosted for a number of years. While that was a fantastic event, we were still feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While there were a number of nations there, the likes of USA and Great Britain were not. It is great, therefore, to see entries and participating nations surpassing pre-Covid levels this time around.

We have seen excellent entries for the World Team Championships where more than 400 players will represent their nations with pride and distinction, while a record 158 teams will battle to top the various podiums.

That staggering number of participants reflects the quality of Mallorca as a tennis-playing venue, the wonderful facilities of the club and hotel, and the reputation of Helge Albrecht, the tournament director, and his team.

There is an amazing sense of camaraderie at these World Championships

Entry for the Individual World Championships is still open, but we have been tracking the numbers and they are also very impressive – more than 600 – and reflect the popularity of Masters Tennis across all age groups.

Indeed, part of the ITF’s mission is to see Masters Tennis become the leading sport in terms of tournament participation for people aged 30 and over, and the entry level at all ITF World Masters Championships in 2023 point towards that ambition being achieved.

As I suggested earlier, the players will be itching to take to the court and get going. In some cases, there will be some losses from the World Championships in May 2022 that need avenging, while others will be desperate to get their hands on medals.

As a reminder, the World Team Championships consist of the Britannia Cup (M65), Kitty Godfree Cup (W65), Jack Crawford Cup (M70), Althea Gibson Cup (W70), Bitsy Grant Cup (M75), Queens Cup (W75), Gardnar Mulloy Cup (M80), Doris Hart Cup (W80), Lorne Main Cup (M85) and Angela Mortimer Cup (W85). In short, there are plenty of medals up for grabs.

But, as ever, winning is not the sole ethos of Masters Tennis, with camaraderie, community and competitive opportunity important founding principles. Giving players the chance to test themselves, improve their fitness and travel are also important values.

Within the age groups on show in Mallorca, the community aspect of Masters Tennis is fully developed and there are some long-standing friendships – and rivalries – that have built up over the years.

There is a real sense of camaraderie among the players in these age groups and it really separates these World Championships from others. However, these World Championships are remarkable for other standout reasons. 

Henry Young of Australia will compete in the Individual Championships at the age of 100 – he celebrated his milestone earlier this month – and in the process will become the oldest player to compete on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour. 

There are other players in their nineties who will take to their court and it is just magnificent to see. Just being active at 90 is special, to play tennis at 90 is even more special, but to be travelling the world and competing in tournaments is just phenomenal.

There will be doubles matches in Mallorca where the combined age of the players on court will be 360 minimum, and when you watch players of this age on court it is simply amazing.

It is fantastic for them and fantastic for their families, and sometimes their great-grandchildren are there watching, which is a very special dynamic.

From our perspective at the ITF, to be a part of these World Championships is something extraordinary – we get excited when a new entry comes in, for instance. It is enriching for the players and enriching for everyone involved in the event.

In short, the upcoming World Championships promise to be an exceptional few weeks of Masters Tennis. Good luck everyone!