ÜBERLINGEN/STARNBERG, August 25, 2025
For the first time, the Überlingen Open was staged as an ITF World Tennis Tour M25 event and for the first time, German rising star Tom Gentzsch lifted the trophy. The 21-year-old capped off a flawless week by defeating top seed Max Houkes of the Netherlands in straight sets, without dropping a single set throughout the tournament.
In front of about 1,000 spectators on the sold-out Center Court, the final lived up to expectations, with Gentzsch producing outstanding shot-making while Houkes struggled to find the form that had carried him through the tournament. Gentzsch sealed a 7-5, 6-4 victory, highlighted by the shot of the week: a spectacular through-the-legs winner in response to a Houkes lob, greeted by thunderous applause from the crowd.
With the triumph, Gentzsch takes home $4,612 in prize money along with 25 valuable ATP Ranking points, enough to propel him to a career-high ranking of around World No. 310.
A Week of Highlights
The final day began in true tradition with the sponsor’s reception featuring live music and a Bavarian Weißwurst breakfast. Among the guests was former Davis Cup captain Patrik Kühnen, who praised the organization and the dedication of all involved. “This is one of the best tournaments on the ITF World Tennis Tour worldwide,” Kühnen said. Also present throughout the week was German national coach Jan Velthuis, who described the event as “Challenger level.”
This year’s upgrade to M25 status, accompanied by a prize money increase to $30,000, marked a milestone for the tournament. “I’m extremely happy with how the week went. It was a complete success,” said tournament director Markus Dufner. “Despite the rain, we had full stands and more spectators than ever before.”
A particular highlight was the night sessions. Initially planned as three, the schedule expanded to five thanks to the newly installed floodlights at TC Altbirnau. “It was an incredible experience for both players and fans,” Dufner noted.
Looking Ahead
Even as the 2025 edition concluded, attention quickly turned to the future. “Of course, we want to maintain this level,” said Dufner. “Fortunately, most of our sponsors have already confirmed they’ll be back. None of this would be possible without a perfectly functioning team — from the groundskeepers to the ball kids’ coordinators to the staff at the players’ desk.”
