The second edition of the European Seniors Championships was held from 27 April to 3 May in Sofia, where it was again hosted by the Bulgarian Tennis Federation. The tournament was split between two venues, with some events held at the Bulgarian National Tennis Centre and others at the nearby Dema Club.
Five world #1s were amongst the stars of the ITF Seniors Circuit in action, with players from eleven different countries emerging as champions.
Both the men’s and women’s 35s titles went to home players. Eighth-seeded wild card Ivaylo Traykov upset second seed Matthias Mueller in straight sets to take the men’s title. The women’s event was played as a round robin, with Biljana Pawlowa Dimitrova edging Bulgarian compatriot and top seed Tzvetelina Nikolova to take the gold medal.
Top seed Thassilo Haun of Germany won a title for a second consecutive year. Champion of the 35s event last year, he has ascended to the 40s where he outlasted Italy’s Andrea Spizzica in three sets to extend his unbeaten streak in Sofia.
The Men’s 45s saw Spain’s Fernando Granero post a surprise win, posting a series of upsets to take the title, including wins over the first, second, fourth and fifth seeds. In the final he ended the reign of defending champion Alec Arvo-Havren (FIN) with a 7-6(5) 6-2 win. The Women’s 45s saw a repeat of last year’s 40s final, with Lucie Schwab-Zelinka (AUT) shading Jurate Hardy (LTU) to take the top spot.
Konstantinos Effraimoglou of Greece went one better than last year’s runner-up spot to take the Men’s 50s event, conceding just two games to top seed Alessio Frontespezi of Italy in the final. Liselot Prechtel (NED) defended her 50s crown with a hard-fought 6-3 76(7) win over Luisa Gouveia of Portugal.
World #1 Pierre Godfroid of Belgium won the Men’s 55s without conceding a set. In the final he beat unseeded Christian Bauer 6-2 6-4. Germany’s top seed Gundula Weiland won the women’s 55s decisively, finishing ahead of Encarnacion Gomis Ruiz of Spain in the round robin event.
The Over 60s events were amongst the most contested, attracting particularly strong draws. France’s Bruno Renoult defended his title in the men’s event with a 6-1 6-0 win over second seed Harald Hellmonseder of Austria, while Heide Eisterlehner of Germany added to her massive haul of European titles in the women’s event, winning all four of her matches in straight sets to finish above Radomila Martinicova (CZE).
Top seed Valentin Raus of Romania claimed the Men’s 65s with a 6-4 6-2 victory over unseeded Juan Ruiz Perez (ESP) in the final, while Heidemarie Oehlsen became the third German to pick up a title, beating Italy’s Pinuccia Sacchi Caridi into second place.
The Men’s 70s saw seniors tennis legend Peter Pokorny once again assert his dominance. The record breaking Austrian conceded just one game in his four matches to take the title, including a 6-0 6-0 win over Zoltan Fabian (HUN) in the final.
Swedish players excelled in the most senior categories. Rolf Westman topped the Men’s 75s group by winning all three of his matches in straight sets, including that against second placed Ladislav Vysocky (CZE). Sven Pewe just failed to make it a Swedish double when Italy’s Angelo Sala ended his run as champion of the Men’s 80s event with a comeback 3-6 6-3 (10-8) win in the final.
The final results, including doubles events, can be found below.
Men's Singles
M35 – (8) Ivaylo Traykov (BUL) d. (2) Matthias Mueller (GER) 6-4 6-1
M40 – (1) Thassilo Haun (GER) d. (7) Andrea Spizzica (ITA) 6-4 1-6 6-0
M45 – Fernando Granero (ESP) d. (1) Alec Arvo-Havern (FIN) 7-6(5) 6-2
M50 – (2) Konstantinos Effraimoglou (GER) d. (1) Alessio Frontespezi (ITA) 6-1 6-1
M55 – (1) Pierre Godfroid (BEL) d. Christian Bauer (AUT) 6-2 6-4
M60 – (1) Bruno Renoult (FRA) d. (2) Harald Helmonseder (AUT) 6-1 6-0
M65 – (1) Valentin Raus (ROU) d. Juan Ruiz Perez (ESP) 6-4 6-2
M70 – (1) Peter Pokorny (AUT) d. (3) Zoltan Fabian (HUN) 6-0 6-0
M75 – 1. (1) Rolf Westman (SWE), 2. Aleksander Denca (POL)
M80 – (2) Angelo Sala (ITA) d. Sven Pewe (SWE) 3-6 6-3 (10-8)
Women's Singles
W35 – 1. Biljana Pawlowa Dimitrova (BUL), 2. (1) Tzvetelina Nikolova (BUL)
W45 – 1. Lucie Schwab Zelinka (AUT), 2. Jurate Hardy (LTU)
W50 – (1) Liselot Prechtel (NED) d. (3) Luisa Gouveia (POR) 6-3 7-6(7)
W55 – 1. (1) Gundula Weiland (GER), 2. Encarnacion Gomis Ruiz (ESP)
W60 – 1. (1) Heidi Eisterlehner (GER), 2. Radomila Martinocova (CZE)
W65 – 1. (1) Heidemarie Oehlsen (GER), 2. Pinuccia Sacchi Caridi (ITA)
Men's Doubles
M35 – Yanakiev/Stoyanov (BUL) d. Dolbea/Mueller (GER) 3-6 7-6 (10-4)
M40 – 1. Donescu (ROU)/Haun (GER), 2. Reinsperger (AUT)/Takacs (GER)
M45 – Bachev/Jossifov (BUL) d. Nunikyan/Vostrikov (RUS) 6-1 6-2
M50 – Koepf (AUT)/Ridler (GER) d. Cataldi/Frontespezi (ITA) 6-3 7-6(6)
M55 – Raijmakers (NED)/Riederer (AUT) d. Bauer/Wretschitsch (AUT) 6-2 6-1
M60 – Heller (SUI)/Van Malder (BEL) d. Grimm/Hellmondseder (AUT) 5-7 6-4 (10-7)
M65 – 1. Atrokhov (RUS)/Vozbutas (LTU), 2. Fahrnberger (AUT)/Raus (ROU)
M70 – Mihalache (ROU)/Pokorny (AUT) d. Losengo/Vento (ITA)
Mixed Doubles
X35 – Bacheva/Bachev (BUL) d. Pawlowa-Dimitrova/Delchev (BUL) 7-5 6-1
X45 – 1. Hardy (LTU)/Oakenfull (GBR), 2. De Vittori/Devalle (ITA)
X55 – 1. Prechtel (NED)/Effraimoglou (GRE). 2. Rowicka/Lubas (POL)
X60 – 1. Martinicova (CZE)/Renoult (FRA), 2. Haubner (AUT)/Montel (FRA)
X65 – 1. Oehlsen/Vollstadt (GER), 2. Toth/Muehlenberg (AUT)
Draws and Results
Men's Singles | Women's Singles | Men's Doubles | Mixed Doubles | Photo Gallery