The European Senior Championships for Individuals and Clubs have drawn to a close in Mallorca after three weeks of competition under the late summer Mediterranean sun, staged in association with Patricio Travel. A total of 92 teams and 470 players took to the courts of Son Bessó and Canyamel to fight for the coveted European Club Championship titles, while 301 players from 30 countries faced off at the European Individual Championships.
The first of the three weeks of competition saw the more senior age groups in action for the Club Championship event. Lagardere Paris Racing wasted no time in extending their dominance of the Women’s 65 event, adding to a win streak in this age category that stretches back to 2011 with victory over Royal Leopold of Belgium.
In the Men’s 60 competition, Sergiev Posad of Russia defended the title won when the age category was last held two years ago, with a 3-1 win over Leicestershire of Great Britain.
A piece of history was made by Ljan TK in the Men’s 70 event, as they became the first ever Norwegian club to win a European Club Championship title.
Following a one-week break during which the European Senior individual Championships were played, the Club Championships returned with the younger age groups in action and new champions crowed in all age categories with several of last year’s winners having to settle for silver medals this time.
The Women’s 40 event produced a home champion as Club Español de Tenis de Rocafort emerged from two distinct phases of round-robin competitions to beat Club Nomentano of Italy into second place.
The Women’s 50 event saw Club de Campo de Villa de Madrid (ESP) just fail to defend the title they won at last year’s event, beaten to first place in the round-robin competition by ETUF Essen of Germany.
Having finished as runners-up in both age categories last year, TC Blau Weiss Furstenzell were once again amongst the leading protagonists in the Mens 50 and 55 events, recapturing the 50 title last won in 2015, and repeating as silver medallists in the 55.
Photo Gallery
2017 European Senior Club Championships - Winners
M35 Djikzicht (NED) d. Leuven (BEL) 4/1
M45 Rot-Weiss (GER) d. Toulousian (FRA) 3/0
M50 Furstenzell (GER) d. Holmen (NOR) RR
M55 TC 65 Eschborn (GER) d. Furstenzell (GER) 3/2
M60 Sergiev Posad (RUS) d. Leicestershire TC 3/1
M65 TC GW Idstein (GER) d. La Salut (ESP) 3/0
M70 Ljan TK (NOR) d. RCT Barcelona-1899 (ESP) RR
W35 Toulousian (FRA) d. Taunton (GBR) RR
W40 Español de Rocafort (ESP) d. Nomentano (ITA) RR
W45 Warande (NED) d. Saint Malo (FRA) 2/1
W50 ETUF Essen (GER) d. Club de Campo Madrid (ESP) RR
W60 Blau-Weiss Berlin 1899 (GER) d. West Bridgford (GBR) RR
W65 Lagardere Paris (FRA) d. Royal Leopold (BEL) 3/0
European Senior Championships
Sandwiched between the two weeks of the Club Championships was the sixth edition of the European Senior Championships. A Grade RC1 event on the ITF Senior Circuit offering 240 points to the winners, this is the most prestigious of European tournaments.
The event yielded champions from 11 different nations, including three from the host country; Rosa-Maria Andres Rodriguez (Women’s 40), Adelaida Torrens Vallhonrat (Women’s 75) and Jorge Camina Borda (Men’s 70), one of 4 ITF world #1s to be taking part.
Several players defended the titles that they won last year in Sorgun, with Alexander Windisch (GER, M45), Karl Pansy (AUT, M55), Peter Pokorny (AUT, M75) and Silvia Bauwens (GER, W70) all repeat winners. Harald Hellmonseder (AUT, M60) and Liselot Prechtel (NED, W55) each won for a second consecutive year, claiming a first title in a new age category.
Amongst the players to claim their maiden European titles were former professional Gabriel Moraru of Romania, who claimed the Men’s 35 title, Kasper Warming of Denmark (Men’s 40) and Liina Suurvarik of Estonia. The event even saw action from a former ATP Tour Top 5 player, as Jiri Novak partnered his friend and Czech compatriot Roman Vik to the semi-finals of the Men’s 40 doubles competition.
For full results from the European Senior Championships, click here.