Sporting brilliant tennis weather and admirable surroundings, the International German Junior Championships ended on Sunday with the final matches. In both finals the favorites persevered more or less securely.

Katharina Hobgarski (Saarbrücken) defeated Ioanna Diana Pietroiu from Romania 6-2.6-2 and added a spectacular success to her already triumphant junior career. What a glorious month for the girl from Saarland who won the International Belgian Championships three weeks ago, reached the quarterfinals in the Paris Grand Slam tournament, celebrated her birthday on the 18th of June, three days ago, and earned her victory today at the “International Germans”. That’s the way to go! (On our photo from left: Werner Ellerkmann, Klaus Eberhard, Ioana Diana Pietroiu, Katharine Hobgarski and Dr. Klaus-Peter Walter)

It was not a good tennis day on the grounds of the LTTC “Rot-Weiss”. Many rain breaks played havoc with today’s schedule. Hour after hour the motto was: rain, interruption, waiting, court preparation, match continues … interruption etc. ! It is gratifying that a young German player made it to the finals, even though that was inevitable, since Katharina Hobgarski from Saarland met Katharina Gerlach (Trainingscenter Kamen) in an all-German semifinals. The girl from Saarland saved the day, winning the hard-fought match only after losing the first set (5-7), where Gerlach delivered exceptional tennis. Afterwards Hobgarski found her game and with powerful shots from the baseline she prevailed 6-3, 6-2 in the following sets.

The success story of Berlin’s exceptional talent, Rudi Molleker (LTTC “Rot-Weiss”), ended with today’s quarterfinals of the Allianz Kundler German Juniors. Molleker lost against the favorite, Dane Benjamin Hannestadt, in two close sets, presenting dramatic and exciting tennis. At one time he even had a realistic chance to win one set or even the whole match. Nevertheless an exceptional performance for the only 14-year-old Berliner who justly raises hope for the future.

For the first time in his blossoming career, Rudolf Molleker (LTTC “Rot-Weiss”) reached the quarterfinals of an important international junior tournament. The only 14-year-old Berliner defeated the Ukrainian Vitali Shcherba 6-0, 7-5. He literally crushed his opponent in the first set, and confidently weathered difficult moments in the second. Molleker belongs to the Talent Team of the German Tennis Federation and is considered one of the most promising young German talents. Which he impressively proved with his victory today. His next opponent will be the Norwegian Benjamin Hannestad, certainly a difficult task, but, since he made it as far as that, a tournament win seems not an impossible feat now, and a possible huge sensation to boot.

Both Berlin talents Lena Rüffer (BSV 92) and Rudi Molleker (LTTC „Rot-Weiss“) were able to continue their run of successes: Rüffer beat the unseeded Dutch Liza Ledbedzeva 7-6, 6-3. Afterwards Molleker, member of the DTB Talent Team, added his own convincing success and defeated Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6-4, 6-2. Watching Rudi play, it is easy to forget that he is only 14 years old, his tennis performance is outstanding. He has excellent shots at his command, is incredibly fast and agile and has a clever tactical approach already. Perhaps another exceptional talent in the making?

At the start of the International German Junior Championships at the LTTC “Rot-Weiss”, two young, promising Berlin players created a sensation: Lena Rüffer (BSV 92) defeated No. 8 Yanni Liu (China) after a lost first set with an easy 6-0, 6-2, and reached second round. Slightly more difficult was Rudi Molleker’s (LTTC “Rot Weiss”) task. The only 14-year-old beat the Argentinian Franco Capalbo (no 3 seed) following a lost first set, as well. After a hard-fought match of more than three hours, the surprise victor Rudi succeeded and was able to celebrate another amazing victory, a follow-up to his successes during the last two weeks.