German tennis prodigy Eva Bennemann capped off a stunning week in Petange, capturing the ITF title with a commanding performance that has sent ripples through the lower tiers of professional tennis. The 18-year-old, who had to fight her way through the qualifying rounds just to reach the main draw in Luxembourg, didn’t drop a single set the entire tournament. In the final, she dismantled Belgium’s Jeline Vandromme with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory. Her path to the trophy was highlighted by a career-defining upset in the second round, where she took down the second seed, Elena Gabriela Ruse. Ruse is currently ranked 99th in the world, marking Bennemann’s first-ever victory against a top-100 player. “That makes this tournament success even more special,” Bennemann told reporters after the match.
Soaring Up the Rankings
The victory on Monday brought immediate rewards for the young star. In the latest world rankings, Bennemann skyrocketed 189 spots, vaulting from No. 568 to No. 379. This win marks her first title at the W75 level, adding to a streak of successes that included W15 victories in Varna and Essen back in October. Despite her recent form, Bennemann admitted the result caught her off guard. “It is definitely unexpected,” she said. “It’s a special feeling. I didn’t expect it at the beginning because I had many strong opponents throughout the tournament.”
It has been a whirlwind year for the teenager, balancing high-level athletics with academics. Earlier in May, she triumphed in the Junior Doubles at the French Open alongside Sonja Zhenikhova. Between tournaments, she managed to graduate high school, completing her Abitur exams in the summer. “To finish the year with a tournament win is something very special,” she added.
Marathon Battle in South Tyrol
While Bennemann was lifting hardware in Luxembourg, the action at the Sparkasse ITF W50 Val Gardena Südtirol in St. Ulrich was just heating up. The $40,000 indoor tournament saw the favorites enter the fray, but all eyes were on local hope Laura Mair. The 22-year-old Wolkenstein native, ranked 586th, faced intense pressure playing on home soil and was pushed to the absolute limit by Ukrainian qualifier Anastasiia Firman. It took a grueling two hours and 41 minutes, but Mair eventually scraped out a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory.
Surviving the Surface Switch
It wasn’t a pretty win, as Mair has been openly struggling with the transition from clay courts to the faster indoor carpet of Val Gardena. Her forehand lacked its usual punch and unforced errors piled up, but her serve kept her in the match. The tension peaked in the third set when Mair faced three break points at 2-2. She managed to hold on, forcing a deciding tiebreak where she initially fell behind 2-3. However, the Italian rallied, reeling off four straight points and sealing a crucial momentum shift with a delicate drop shot at 4-3 that had the packed arena exhaling in relief. “We both made a lot of mistakes,” Mair admitted afterward. “In the tiebreak, I was better in the groove and hit a few good returns.” She now advances to face Canadian left-hander Kayla Cross in the Round of 16.
Teammates Clash and Sibling Rivalries
Elsewhere in the draw, 19-year-old Noemi Maines secured the biggest win of her career in an all-Italian clash against her TC Rungg clubmate, Camilla Zanolini. Maines, ranked significantly lower at 833, upset the 553rd-ranked Zanolini, crediting her serve as the difference-maker. “The nervousness was great because we train together daily,” Maines said, noting she had to adjust to Zanolini’s high pace. Maines will next face Sweden’s Lisa Zaar, who pulled off her own upset against American Anna Rogers.
The tournament is also set to feature a unique family showdown in the next round. The Portuguese sisters, Francisca and Matilde Jorge, are slated to play against each other in the Round of 16. Francisca, 25, is ranked about 50 spots ahead of her younger sister. The duo, who won a WTA 125 doubles title together earlier in 2024, will have to set their partnership aside as they fight for a spot in the quarterfinals.
