'We played together, drank together, danced together'
It started with a WhatsApp message from a childhood friend she had not seen for nearly two decades but ended with Germany’s Ellen Linsenbolz flying home with a host of medals and memories.
Nearly three months have passed since the ITF Masters World Team and Individual Championships were held in Antalya, Türkiye, yet Linsenbolz recalls that trophy-laden fortnight with a glint in her eye and huge fondness.
World Championships are the biggest and most prestigious events on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, so it was most certainly a baptism of fire for the 34-year-old with these tournaments her very first in Masters Tennis.
Her interest in competing in Antalya had been piqued by Germany team captain Anne Schaefer, who messaged to see if see fancied representing Germany in the Women’s 30+ Team Cup at the World Team Championships.
“It was a big surprise to be messaged by Anne because it was our first contact for 20 years,” Linsenbolz tells itftennis.com. “I knew her from childhood, but she moved to Italy and we lost touch with each other, so it was really cool to see her again.
“She asked if I would like to play, and it sounded good. Once there, Anne and I were able to share stories from the past and that whole experience of the World Championships has restarted our friendship.”
Germany topped the podium after being imperious on court and Linsenbolz was having such a blast that she decided to stay a further week and compete at the Individual Championships in the 30+ category, which were also taking place at the Ali Bey Club.
It proved a shrewd move as she advanced through the respective draws and finished her Turkish odyssey by claiming the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles. In total, she has contested 17 matches within Masters Tennis and won them all.
“It was really wonderful and a lot of fun,” said Linsenbolz. “I was very nervous initially during the team event because you’re playing for and representing your nation, but at the same time you realise you’re not competing alone.
“We approached it with the attitude of ‘let’s see how it goes’ and we won every single match. Suddenly, I wasn’t nervous anymore and it was the perfect introduction as it allowed me to get used to the level.
“Then the singles, doubles and mixed doubles went the same way. I did not know Sebastian [Geigle], my mixed doubles partner, beforehand, while my doubles partner Lisa Rauch and I are very different. However, it all just fitted, worked out well and was so much fun.”
Linsenbolz is most certainly not a tennis novice and aside from a six-month period when she was sidelined following knee surgery the sport has been a constant in her life.
She competed on the ITF World Tennis Tour at both junior and professional level, facing the likes of Julia Goerges and Arantxa Rus, although a full-time tennis career was never considered a realistic proposition.
“To be honest, I did not have those ambitions,” she added. “I realised pretty fast that everything has to work out for you in order to make it in the game and it was not the life I wanted to live. I had opportunities but I don’t regret anything.”
Linsenbolz now lives in Karlsruhe and works within the German judiciary, while her tennis playing is largely reserved for the national club structure within her homeland, which is hugely successful in retaining players over the age of 30.
She still competes for prize money and earlier this year reached the regional finals – a significant feather in her cap and proof her game remains in good shape, although Masters Tennis has certain attractive features.
“At the ITF Masters World Championships, it felt so much better to play players my own age and not ones who were half my age,” added Linsenbolz. “These days, there are times when I am old enough to be my opponent's mum.
“My approach to tennis is all about having fun. I like to win and it’s nice to see that I can still compete against younger players but I don’t only play to win. If my opponent is better then fair enough and I just say, ‘she deserves it’.
“I don’t put any pressure on myself. My parents didn’t do that either and I always say that is the reason I am still playing the game. When I was growing up, if I said that I didn’t feel like playing tennis today, they would be totally alright with that, which is not always the case.”
As Linsenbolz alludes, healthy competition is a significant draw of Masters Tennis, while other founding principles include camaraderie, health and fitness benefits, travel opportunities and a sense of pride and achievement.
As the global guardian of the game, the ITF’s mission is to help tennis become the world’s leading sport for tournament participation among those aged 30 and above. Linsenbolz most certainly appreciates the lure of the Masters Tour.
“I have seen why people like it so much,” she said. “It was so cool to play against players from other nations and share experiences: we played tennis together, drank together and danced together.
“We danced with the Argentinian girls after the final [Argentina finished runners-up in the Women’s 30+ Team Cup] and it was so fun to do that with people from the other end of the world.”
So, the big question. Is Linsenbolz a Masters Tennis convert or was her appearance at the ITF Masters World Championships a one-off? While her work prevents extensive travel, she has admitted to scoping out the calendar for potential tournaments to compete at in the remaining months of the year.
Watch this space.