The European Senior Club Championships were recently held at La Manga Club in Spain, where all of the competition’s age categories competed at the same venue for a third successive year.
The two week tournament, held from 22-27 September and 29 September – 4 October, saw a total of 331 players in action, representing 64 teams. Week 1 saw the youngest two men’s and women’s age categories in action at the award-winning resort, while the more senior age groups took to the courts the following week.
DCADA Hamburg of Germany won the inaugural edition of the Men’s 35s category, scoring a 4-1 victory over Virgin Active Gloucester of Great Britain. TCC Cortina of Italy avenged a 3-2 loss in last year’s final to beat rivals TC Fürstenzell and claim the Men’s 50s title. Led by Manfred Hundstorfer, the ITF #1-ranked player for the age group, Cortina scored an emphatic 4-1 win to secure a first European title.
The Women’s 40s title saw a Spain vs. Netherlands final for a second consecutive year. In the absence of last year’s finalists (Chamartin of Madrid and TC Oranje), the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona-1899 ensured that the silverware would remain on Spanish soil with a 2-1 win over TC Cash.
CSM d’Eaubonne scored a notable win in the Women’s 50s tournament, claiming a European title for a fourth successive year with a 3-0 victory over Campo Villa de Madrid. Three of their wins came in different age categories, with the previous titles coming in Women’s 40s (2011-2) and Women’s 45s (2013).
A one-day break between the two weeks of play became two days following a torrential rain storm, but the super-senior players were soon back in action for the second half of the championships.
Last year’s finalists TC Eschborn of Germany went on better, brushing past TC Root (NED) to claim the Men’s 55s title. Italy’s Nastro Verde emerged triumphant from a round-robin competition to take the Men’s 60s, while Grasshopper of Switzerland outlasted TC Siershahn of Germany 3-2 to win the Men’s 65s.
CT Palermo continued their impressive run at the Championships by winning the Men’s 70s title for a third consecutive year. Led by the world #1 and arguably the greatest senior tennis player of all time, Peter Pokorny, the club took pole position over Centre Point of the Netherlands in the round-robin event. The win is an incredible eighth consecutive for the club, with many of the same team members having contributed to the string of Men’s 65s titles in the five preceding years.
The 45 Club of Great Britain recaptured the Women’s 60s crown, finishing ahead of compatriots West Hants in the round-robin to re-claim the title last won in 2011. Meanwhile, Lagardere Paris Racing extended their win streak to seven years, claiming a fourth consecutive Women’s 65s title to add to three 60s titles. Led by world #1 Gail Benedetti, the club scored a 2-1 win over Britain’s Bridgewater LTC in a repeat of last year’s final.
Final Results
Men’s 35 DCADA Hamburg (GER) d. Virgin Active Gloucestershire (GBR) 4-1
Men’s 50 TCC Cortina (ITA) d. Furstenzell Team 1 (GER) 4-1
Men’s 55 65 Eschborn (GER) d. TC Root (NED) 3-0
Men’s 60 1. Nastro Verde (ITA), 2. LTV Lelystad (NED)*
Men’s 65 Grasshopper (SUI) d. TC Siershahn (GER) 3-2
Men’s 70 1. CT Palermo (ITA), 2. Centre Point (NED)*
Women’s 40 RCT Barcelona (ESP) d. TC Cash (NED) 2-1
Women’s 50 CSM D’Eaubonne (FRA) d. C Campo Villa de Madrid (ESP) 3-0
Women’s 60 1. The 45 Club (GBR), 2. West Hants (GBR)*
Women’s 65 Lagardere Paris (FRA) d. Bridgewater (GBR) 2-1
Draws and Results
Week 1 Draws: Men's 35 | Men's 50 | Women's 40 | Women's 50
Week 2 Draws: Men's 55 | Men's 60 | Men's 65 | Men's 70 | Women's 60 | Women's 65
Results Week 1: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6
Results Week 2: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
Photo Gallery