Roberto Menendez Ferre is no stranger to success at the ITF Young Seniors World Championships. The Spaniard has returned to Miami for the 2019 edition seeking a fifth consecutive individual title, having collected three Men’s 40+ titles since leaving the 35+ division as champion in 2015.

Nevertheless, it was his success with his Spanish team-mates in the Men’s 40+ Tony Trabert Cup that ranks among his most precious victories.

“It was very emotional, and very difficult,” explained Menendez Ferre, who triumphed alongside Francisco Javier Martinez Baena, Mario Perea and Jonathan Garcia with victories over Denmark in the quarter-finals, Germany in the semis and Netherlands in the final.

“Last year we won also, but all our ties were won before the doubles. This time it was really very difficult. In the semi-final against Germany we were one match down – my second match was really tough, I was down a set and a break but made it 1-1, and then in the doubles we were so close to losing when they were serving for the match at 5-4.”

Menendez Ferre had gone unbeaten through five matches – singles and doubles – to fire Spain into the final, but the captain was left to rely on his team-mates with the title on the line after falling to defeat against Dennis van Scheppingen in the final.

Martine z Baena and Perea came through wne it counted, battling back from a set down to clinch the decisive doubles against Van Scheppingen and Rogier Wassen, 5-7 6-2 6-2.

“I’m very happy because we played altogether – doubles, singles, all four players. It was a really good victory. After the match we had a big party. For me it’s my fifth time winning gold in teams, but this time was really different.”

High humidity and rain delays have played their part in the first week of Young Seniors World Championships action at Miami’s Flamingo Park Tennis Center. But while many teams saw their ties crammed into late afternoon sessions once the rain had passed, Germany’s W35+ Suzanne Lenglen Cup squad were heading to South Beach with their day’s work done in double-quick time.

“I guess we were a little bit lucky,” said Germany’s Manon Kruse, who claimed the W35+ Individual title in Miami a year ago. “We did well in the group, so we didn’t have a three-set match up to the final – even in the semis it was much easier than expected, but that was due to the other team having really tough matches and some of the girls getting really tired.”

After easing past Turkey and South Africa in the group stage, top seeds Germany – Kruse, Steffi Bachofer, Christine Kraupa and Corina Scholten – made light work of No.3 seeds Russia and No.2 seeds Netherlands to claim the title without dropping a match.

“In the semis, while everybody else was delayed by rain, we were already done – we were at the beach! We went into the final feeling strong and not as tired as we had expected to be after the semis, so it was probably a big advantage in the final.”

Playing in the USA has felt like something of a homecoming for Kruse, who played tennis while studying for her MBA in Tennessee, but it is the friendships forged far from home that she values most about her ITF Seniors experiences.

“There’s not so much real friendship in tennis when you’re younger, but it is when you get older,” Kruse said. “Now we’re connected by the love of the sport and not so much by who’s winning, you know?

“Last year was special because it was the first time for me winning a team title, and now it’s just as special. For three of the girls it is their first time, and I’m just really proud. We got along really well and had a good week – everybody was supportive. And I also feel here this week, everybody from the ITF and also the other teams are so nice to each other – I even feel like they’re happy for us.”

European nations dominated the team competitions as they did in 2018, with France sweeping the 45+ competitions as the Men’s team claimed the Dubler Cup with a 2-1 win over Netherlands, and the Women’s team sealed the Margaret Court Cup by the same scoreline.

Spain also claimed the Men’s 35+ Italia Cup with a 2-1 win over Italy, but the Italians were not to be denied a title, the No.7 seeds stunning Great Britain, Spain and top seeds France to seal the Women’s 40+ Young Cup.

Attention now turns to the Young Seniors Individual World Championships, with Menendez Ferre and Kruse both defending titles in 2019 – though for both, the competition is only part of the appeal of their two weeks in Miami.

“We finally had one day off,” Menendez Ferre said with a smile. “I love photography, so I went to Crandon Park. With the team events, you spend a lot of time at the club – I’m the captain, so I have to be watching my partner in doubles. Also the rain delayed our matches for two days, so I didn’t do much.”

Both know how lucky they are that tennis affords them such experiences – but both are keen to explain that Seniors tennis is far from a closed club, and just one of a myriad of reasons they still pick up a racquet.

“Tennis is a very healthy sport – it’s not a contact sport like football or basketball,” Menendez Ferre said. “Especially in clay courts, it’s very healthy. I was never injured, I’m very lucky – I’m 43 now. And young players ask me, ‘what happened with you, with your body?’ I don’t know what happened, but I’ve been really lucky with this.”

“What makes it special for me is, you get to see your friends,” Kruse said. “Most you see just once a year, often in a different place in with world. When you stay with someone for a week away from home, it’s like bonding, right? You so look forward to seeing them again – you’re building up friendships. Then you may say to them, ‘why don’t we play this tournament, so we can see each other again?’

“Now that we’re all grown up and, I guess because many of us have had a tennis career in the past, we are more relaxed,” she added. “We are proud of what they achieved, and everybody is just enjoying being together. It really is like that – I know it sounds like a cliché, but I really love it.”