First World Championships in Asia Sees Thrilling Climax
Hosted this year for the first time in Asia, the 2024 ITF Masters World Team Championships (45) saw an impressive 47 teams compete for the ultimate award on the ITF Masters Tour: a World Championship gold medal.
Teams from China, the Philippines, Korea and hosts Japan gave the competition a truly global feel alongside European, American, South American, African and Australian nations. The beautiful setting of the Ariake Tennis Park added excitement and a special feeling to the atmosphere.
The competition was extremely strong in both the Men's Dubler Cup and Women's Margaret Court Cup. On the men’s side, 2023 World Champions France hoped to defend their title, led by captain and former ATP 407 Xavier Audouy. However, France faced stiff competition from a deep field. The Netherlands, who boasted two former World Champions in Bart Beks and Marcus Hilpert; Spain, who were led by serial World Champion Roberto Menendez Ferre; and the USA, spearheaded by former finalist Wojtek Bratek, all stood in the way of the French - not to mention dark horses and home hopes Japan.
With home advantage spurring on a strong-looking team, which included former ATP 219 Takahiro Terachi and former ATP 717 Naoki Arimoto, Japan caused some huge upsets en route to the final. Defeating defending champions France in the quarter-finals and then Germany in the semi-finals, optimism was high that Japan could secure a first ever World Team Championship title against 2023 runners-up Spain.
However, led by Masters legend Menendez Ferre, Spain had other ideas. Francisco Javier Martinez Baena kicked proceedings off with a clinical 6-2 6-4 win over Terachi. The number one singles followed and produced one of the great Masters Tour matches of all time. In an epic rollercoaster of a match, Menendez Ferre saved a match point before eventually prevailing 4-6 7-5 7-6 to seal the gold medal for Spain. Both players received a warm round of applause from the appreciative crowd to cap a fine week.
On the women's side, the competition was just as fierce. Returning champions France were formidable with former top 300 WTA star Ségolène Berger and World Championships stalwart Carine Maisonnave forming a strong top two. 2023 runners-up Germany were aiming to go one better this year, with ITF No. 5 Mirja Wagner spearheading the team. Spain were also challenging, led by former WTA 140 Gisela Riera-Roura.
However, it was the USA and 2023 finalists Germany who made it through a packed field to compete in the title match. Germany defeated Great Britain and the USA defeated home favourites Japan in two tightly contested semi-finals on Thursday. With Germany desperate to go one better than last year, the nerves were palpable in the opening singles match.
In a topsy-turvy, nail-biting encounter, Hiromi Sasano eventually defeated Isabell Willer 5-7 7-6 6-3 to secure a vital first point for the USA. This gave American number one Julie Thu the confidence she needed to come out swinging in the number one match. Thu took a close opening set 7-5 against Wagner, before running away with the second 6-1 to claim the gold medal for the USA - the nation's first for 10 years in this age division. The final was a fitting ending to the women's event, with some excellent tennis encapsulating the high level seen on court all week.
Attention now turns to the 2024 ITF Masters 45 World Individual Championships this week, with players battling it out for individual glory across the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events in Lisbon.
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