GERMANY, FRANCE AND ITALY STAR AT 55-60 WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hosted this year in Lisbon, Portugal, the 2023 edition of the 55-60 World Team Championships saw 87 teams compete for the ultimate award on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour: a World Championship gold medal.
An array of ITF Masters stars represented their countries in the Portuguese capital, including a number of former ATP and WTA players.
With home hopes gone, it was Italy who dominated the finals line-up with teams in three of the four cups. Both men's cups saw Italy face off against France, with the two European heavyweights going toe-to-toe in highly entertaining encounters. France's victory in the Austria Cup (M55)started with a narrow 6-4 7-5 victory for Christophe Damiens over Marco Filippeschi, but ended on an unfortunate note as Italy's Enrico Casadei was forced to retire. The Italian won the first set 6-4 against French number one Lionel Barthez, before injury struck at 5-0 down in the second set to hand France the win.
France enjoyed double delight over Italy on finals day, also securing the Von Cramm Cup (M60) in a nail-biting encounter. Italian number two Giovanni Lelli Mami got his nation off to the perfect start with a tight 4-6 6-3 6-3 win over Arnaud Deleval. Knowing that he had to win to prevent Italy from taking the gold medal, Frenchman Alain Moracchini battled back from a set down to defeat Roberto Angelini in three sets. The final then came down to a doubles shootout, with Alain Coffe joining Moracchini to take home the title for France. The pair produced a ruthless performance, winning 6-2 6-3, to conclude an excellent tie.
Italy, wounded after two finals losses to France, received consolation in the form of the Maureen Connolly Cup (W55).Facing a strong Germany team in the final, Italy went 1-0 up thanks to an impressive display by Sabrina Cantoni, who prevailed 7-5 6-0 over Gabi Kirchner. Anke Wurst then levelled the scoreline, defeating Simona Isidori 6-2 6-3 to set up a deciding doubles rubber. Cantoni and Isidori won a close first set 7-5, before growing in confidence to win the second set 6-2 and, with it, the gold medal.
Finally, Germany produced a clinical performance to defeat USA 2-0 and lift the Alice Marble Cup (W60). Kerstin Garcia and Helga Nauck dominated their singles matches over Vicki Buholz and Fran Chandler respectively, winning in straight sets to secure the title.
Attention now turns to the culmination of the ITF Masters 55-60 World Individual Championships on 19-26 August, when players will battle it out for individual glory across the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events in Lisbon.
Click the links below for all 55-60 Team Cup results:
Maureen Connolly Cup (W55)
Alice Marble Cup (W60)
Austria Cup (M55)
Von Cramm Cup (M60)