The 2025 ITF Masters World Championships began with a bang in Manavgat, Turkiye.

Blue skies and idyllic conditions at the Ali Bey Club set the backdrop for the 30-35-40-45 team competition, with an impressive 126 teams competing for the the most prestigious award on the ITF Masters Tour: a World Championship gold medal.

This year saw eighteen former or current Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup players representing their nations, including the present Pakistan team Aqeel Khan and Aisam Qureshi, who is also the President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation. An array of notable ATP and WTA players also competed in Turkiye, including recent ATP Tour Challenger winner Mark Whitehouse. Plus, there was celebrity stardust in the form of football legend Diego Forlan.

On the women’s side, Italy's W35 team boasted two former BJK Cup players. Alberta Brianti, a Masters Tour star who reached a career-high of No. 55 in the WTA rankings, led the line alongside teammate Giulia Gatto-Monticone, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 148 in the world.

The men's competitions also featured a host of big names, with Khan, Qureshi  and Whitehouse joined by former Wimbledon competitor and ATP #242 Alex Ward and Peter Torebko (171 ATP), amongst a number of others. Turkmenistan and Pakistan sent teams for the first time in the history of the competition.

The third edition of the M30 Cup saw winners outside of Germany for the first time in the event. Last year's Men's 30 champions were knocked out in a clinical performance by eventual champions Great Britain. Ward and Whitehouse were ruthless throughout the week, culminating in a scintillating gold medal match display. Ward kicked things off with a 6-1 6-0 victory, before Whitehouse cleaned up with a brutal 6-0 6-0 win. 

The W30 Cup final staged a repeat of 2024, with Germany proving too strong as Great Britain fell just short of a 30+ double. Laura Schaeder out-manoeuvred Alex Walker 6-2 6-2 in the second singles, before British No. 1 Ella Taylor and German No. 1 Vivian Heisen battled it out. Heisen prevailed 6-2 6-4 to defend the W30 title for Germany.

The Italia Cup (M35) also saw an upset as defending champions France were knocked out by European heavyweights Spain in the semi-finals. In a high-quality final, Spain triumphed over the Netherlands 2-0, with two comfortable singles victories for Carlos Garcia-Villanueva and Samuel Arauzo Martinez sealing the win. In the Suzanne Lenglen Cup (W35), Italy defended their title from 2024 - making it a remarkable four years in a row. In a nervy final that went down to the wire, Germany and Italy split singles to take the tie to a deciding doubles. It was Italy who held their nerve, as Gatto-Monticone and Annalisa Bona produced a commanding 6-1 6-0 victory over German pair Anna Katharina Lueke and Franziska Maus.

Elsewhere, Italy proved the best team in the Tony Trabert Cup (M40). After Emiliano Privato comprehensively beat Simon Morris 6-1 6-2, Great Britain fought back to win the #1 singles 6-2 6-2 - Simon Roberts defeating Daniele Giuliani. In one of the most exciting climaxes of the day, the Italians clinched a 7-5 6-1 win in the deciding doubles to spark jubilant celebrations. In the Young Cup (W40), Team USA captured its sole gold of the event against serial finalists Germany. Two tightly contested singles matches saw victories for the USA in both, with Anda Perianu winning 6-1 5-7 6-3 against Ria Doernemann to kick off. Mariko Fritz-Krockow, dominant all week at #1 singles, continued her hot streak to seal victory for the USA - beating Katharina Rath 7-5 6-4. 

Defending champions and consistent Masters world champions Germany proved invincible once more in the Margaret Court Cup (W45). No. 1 Manon Kruse, a stalwart on the Masters Tour, led the line for the Germans, who were undefeated in singles throughout the week. Gitte Moeller was in unforgiving mood at number two singles, defeating Great Britain's Leyla Ogan 6-1 6-1. Kruse, who has been in this situation so many times over the years, was fearless in a 6-3 6-2 win over Natalie Ackland. Germany seem to have a lock on this category over recent years, with 2025 being no different.

Finally, there were also familiar winners in the Dubler Cup (M45). Spain, defending champions and serial winners with Masters legend Roberto Menendez-Ferre leading the line, know how to get over the line on finals day. After narrowly defeating Germany in the semi-finals 2-1, Spain were in confident mood and got off to the perfect start at #2 singles. Francisco Martinez Baena was on top form to beat France's Jacques Gley 7-6 6-2. Menendez Ferre, like Kruse, thrives on the pressure of a final. The Spaniard overcame Frenchman Nicolas Tourtein a high-level encounter 6-3 7-6, confirming Spain's recent dominance of the 45+ category.

Attention now turns to the 2025 ITF Masters 30-35-40-45 World Individual Championships this week, with players battling it out for individual glory across the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events in Manavgat.