First-time champions star at 2024 ITF Masters World Individual Champs
The 2024 ITF Masters World Individual Championships (50-60) reached its conclusion in Mexico City, Mexico, with the crowning of first-time champions.
After a slew of withdrawals from some of the pre-tournament favourites, there was the feeling that this year’s World Championships would be more open and unpredictable than usual.
This proved to be the case with first-time champions in the Men's Singles 50+, Men's Singles 60+, and Women's Singles 55+, as well as multiple new champions across the doubles events.
This trend started with the fifth seed Clemens Weinhandl of Austria defeating top seed and multiple World Champion Bart Beks of Netherlands in the MS50+. In doing so, Weinhandl went one step further than when he reached the final of the MS35+ back in 2009.
“For the first time in my life I almost had tears of joy because it was so emotional for me," Weinhandl told itftennis.com. "Although I initially struggled with the altitude, I improved throughout the week, and I am more than happy to be a World Champion.”
Despite this disappointing defeat for Beks, who also lost in the final of the World Individual Championships in 2023 and 2019, he bounced back with victories in the Men's Doubles 50+ with Sebastian Jackson and Mixed Doubles 50+ with Barbara Mulej.
Another first-time world champion was Spain’s Pablo Semprun who defeated experienced opposition, including top seed Simon Arms in the semi-final and then USA’s John Saviano in the final, to win the MS60+.
On the women’s side, there was unexpected success for Latin America in the WS55+ as Peru’s Karim Strohmeier-Merino handed Simona Isidori her third straight loss in the final of the World Championships.
Peru had further success as Strohmeier-Merino followed up her singles triumph by winning the doubles alongside her compatriot Lorena Rodriguez Di Laura.
Along with these first-time champions, former world champions consolidated their legacies in Mexico City.
Barbara Mulej won a hugely impressive fifth World Championships in a row, defeating first-time finalist Isabelle Gemmel of Australia without losing a game in the WS50+. “I am really happy to win another World Championships, especially because of the tough conditions," Mulej said. "I had never played at such high altitude before, so I am glad I overcame this challenge to win again.”
There was a similarly one-sided scoreline in the final of the MS55+, as USA’s Eoin Collins defended his title from last year by defeating Australia’s Igor Jovanovic 6-0, 6-1.
Germany’s Helga Nauck also avoided an upset in the WS60+, defeating surprise finalist and debutant Stina Mosvold of Sweden 6-1, 6-1 in the final to defend her title from 2023.
The Swede also suffered a painful defeat in the final in the women's doubles 60+ alongside Shelly Works, losing to the experienced pair of Vicki Buholz and Christine Paulsen 10-8 in the deciding match tiebreak.
Finally, James Zambernardi came the closest to winning a gold medal for the hosts Mexico, but ultimately he lost in the final of the MD60+ alongside Miquel Puigdevall Lamolla to Frans Frimbergen and Scott Works.
You can find the full results here: 50-60 World Individual Championships Draws and Results