Max Schönhaus is part of an up-and-coming generation of German tennis players. After losing in the final in Paris, he has suffered another disappointment.
Tennis talent Max Schönhaus has missed out on the final of the junior competition at Wimbledon. The 17-year-old from Niederense in the Sauerland region, who lost the German final against Niels McDonald from Schwerin at the French Open five weeks ago, was defeated by Bulgaria’s Ivan Ivanov 6-7 (7-9), 6-7 (5-7) at the All England Club.
Schönhaus could have become the first German to reach the junior final of the grass court classic since Daniel Elsner in 1997. Last year, he triumphed in the doubles at Church Road. Schönhaus is part of an up-and-coming generation of German tennis players that also includes McDonald, Justin Engel, and Diego Dedura, who have already racked up professional victories.
Schönhaus saved three set points from the Bulgarian in a dramatic tiebreak in the first set, but then hit an easy volley into the net on the fourth. In the second set, he was already 0:3 down, but fought his way back into the tiebreak – and once again showed nerves.
No German has ever won the junior tournament at Wimbledon. In the girls’ competition, Barbara Rittner, later Fed Cup winner and long-time national coach, is the only German to have triumphed (1991).
The winners of the junior competition at the classic grass court tournament include future champions Roger Federer (1998), Stefan Edberg (1983), Pat Cash (1982), and Björn Borg (1972). Boris Becker played professionally at the age of 16 and won his first of three Wimbledon titles in 1985 at the age of 17.
