Triple threats abound as Young Seniors World Champs enter medal rounds
The final two days of the 2021 Young Seniors World Individual Championships in Umag, Croatia are poised nicely as the players compete for the medal positions, with a number of contenders still in the hunt for three golds.
Former world number 62 Fred Gil, of Portugal, leads the way in the Men’s 35 singles event. Gil, who saved match points in the first round, faces a rematch with Frenchman Vincent Stouff – who beat the Portuguese player in the final of the teams competition.
In the Men’s 30 singles, the top two seeds have both reached the final without dropping a set. Jens Janssen, of Germany, will bid to become world champion against Jan Marek, from the Czech Republic. Both Janssen and Gil are in line to complete the difficult task of winning all three events in their age category – singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
In the Women’s 30 singles, number one seed Eileen Aranas-Roth will take on Spanish WTA number 797 Almudena Sanz-Llaneza Fernandez in a highly anticipated final. Meanwhile, Slovakian world number two Silvia Chuda will take on German Steffi Bachofer in the final of the Women’s 35 singles. Bachofer is aiming to become a triple world champion, having also reached the final of the 35 doubles and semi-finals of the mixed doubles.
Elsewhere, fellow German Manon Kruse is also set to achieve the rare feat of winning three gold medals at the World Championships. Kruse has continued her good form from the team event – where she won the title – by reaching the final of all three events she has entered. Kruse faces countrywoman Sylva Hahn in the Women’s 40 singles final on Friday.
Like Kruse, Spaniard Roberto Menendez Ferre has built on the momentum of winning the team event by comfortably reaching the semi-finals of the Men’s 45 singles. In the Women’s 45 singles, Barbara Mulej will take on Susi Lohrmann for the title. Mulej, of Slovenia, is the last player left in the championships who has the possibility to complete a treble of titles in the 45s category.
Click here for all the Draws for the Young Seniors World Individual Championships.