The European Masters Championships returned to Veli Losinj in Croatia for a third and final occasion this week, as 241 players from 35 countries battled it out for the prestigious titles at the Ljubicic Tennis Academy. | Photo Gallery
Singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles worth 1000 ITF World Tennis Masters Tour ranking points were on offer for age groups ranging from 30+ to 80+, with a number of surprises and notable winners emerging during the course of the week:
- Matias Valdes made the perfect debut in the competition. He ensured his long trip from Chile was a golden one by beating defending champion Klaus Moser in the final of the Men’s 30 competition.
- World #1 Clemens Weinhandl (AUT) claimed his third European title. Having finished as runner-up last year, he claimed the Men’s 50s title in style, losing just five games on route to the final.
- Three ladies managed to defend their titles from 2023: Spain's Almudena Sanz-Llaneza Fernandez (30+), Valentina Padula of Italy (50+) and Liselot Prechtel of the Netherlands (60+).
- Padula’s title defence was particularly authoritative, losing just nine games in total during her three straight set wins.
- Liselot Prechtel is fast becoming a Championships legend. With her win, she racked up a third consecutive W60 title, and eighth European title overall since 2012.
- Two unseeded Italians met in the women’s 55+ final, with Sabrina Cantoni claiming a first European title over Cristina Giordani. The Women’s 65 event saw two Swedes meet in the final, with Vladimira Andersson claiming a first European title.
- Arguably the most international of draws was the Mens 65, whose 31 players came from 17 nations and four continents. The eventual winner was Britain’s Martin Cornish, who went one better than last year’s silver medal, recovering from a 1-6 first set loss to outlast Australian opponent Wayne Pascoe.
- German players once again dominated the men’s events in general, claiming four titles: Thomas Burgemeister (M40), Carsten Groeger (M45), Bernd Ruck (M60) and Peter Adrigan (M80). Adrigan returned to the winners’ circle having last claimed gold in 2016.
- The Women’s 70s final produced one of the matches of the tournament, as second seed Pauline Fisher of GBR outlasted defending champion Reinhilde Adams to take the gold medal.
Players were once again treated to first-class facilities, stunning scenery and pro tournament perks, with the events once again streamed live online with multicourt cameras.
Tennis Europe Chief Executive Officer Thomas Hammerl commented, “I’d like to thank Ivan Ljubicic and the staff of the Academy for the excellent job in hosting the Championships over the past three years. The organisation has been perfect, the players loved the spectacular venue, and the Academy has taken this event to the next level.”
Tennis Europe recently confirmed that the 2025 European Masters Championships will be hosted by the Hungarian Tennis Federation in Budapest. Further information will follow in due course.
Draws and Results (ITF site) | Draws (.pdf)
|
Event
|
Winner
|
Runner-Up
|
Score
|
|
Men 30
|
Matias Valdes (CHI)
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Klaus Moser (GER)
|
6-0 6-4
|
|
Men 35
|
Petar Djukic (SRB)
|
Anton Stepakhno (UKR)
|
4-6 6-1 7-5
|
|
Men 40
|
Thomas Burgemeister (GER)
|
Evghenii Plugariov (MDA)
|
6-4 6-4
|
|
Men 45
|
Carsten Groeger (GER)
|
Joakim Svedlund (SWE)
|
6-2 7-5
|
|
Men 50
|
Clemens Weinhandl (AUT)
|
Federico Silberberg (CHI)
|
3-6 6-2 6-4
|
|
Men 55
|
Mauro Colangelo (ITA)
|
Ireneusz Gorka (POL)
|
6-2 6-2
|
|
Men 60
|
Bernd Ruck (GER)
|
Eric Rouaix (FRA)
|
7-6(5) 6-2
|
|
Men 65
|
Martin Cornish (GBR)
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Wayne Pascoe (AUS)
|
1-6 6-3 6-2
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|
Men 70
|
Marc Renoult (FRA)
|
Harald Hellmonseder (AUT)
|
6-0 6-1
|
|
Men 75
|
Marjan Furlan (SLO)
|
Max Schwelberger (AUT)
|
6-1 6-2
|
|
Men 80
|
Peter Adrigan (GER)
|
Hans-Joachim Singhoff (GER)
|
w.o.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women 30
|
Almudena Sanz-Llaneza Fernandez (ESP)
|
Julia Sauer (GER)
|
RR
|
|
Women 35
|
Eileen Aranas-Roth (GER)
|
Sara Marcionni (ITA)
|
6-1 4-6 6-4
|
|
Women 40
|
Johanna Tyreus (SWE)
|
Rita Zenunaj (SUI)
|
RR
|
|
Women 45
|
Kristine Quadflieg (GER)
|
Stefanie Kolar (GER)
|
6-1 6-4
|
|
Women 50
|
Valentina Padula (ITA)
|
Helle Stene (NOR)
|
6-3 6-0
|
|
Women 55
|
Sabrina Cantoni (ITA)
|
Cristina Giordani (ITA)
|
6-4 7-6(2)
|
|
Women 60
|
Liselot Prechtel (NED)
|
Laura De Vittori (ITA)
|
2-6 6-1 4-0 ret
|
|
Women 65
|
Vladimira Andersson (SWE)
|
Anna-Karin Mansson (SWE)
|
6-3 5-5 ret
|
|
Women 70
|
Pauline Fisher (GBR)
|
Reinhilde Adams (GER)
|
2-6 6-4 7-6(7)
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