Showdown in Paris: Germany's Next Rising Tennis Stars
Junior Tennis Showdown at French Open's Final, German Edition - Final of French Open Junior Championship held in Germany
Let the games begin!
Although Alexander Zverev's campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals, there's still a German final brewing at the French Open. On Saturday, the 17-year-old sensations Max Schönhaus and Niels McDonald will lock horns in the junior final. Schönhaus outplayed Bulgarian Ivan Ivanov 6:3, 6:4, while McDonald dominated Japanese player Ryo Tabata 6:2, 6:2 in their respective semifinals.
History isn't exactly on Schönhaus' or McDonald's side, as the last German tennis player to hoist a junior Grand Slam trophy was none other than Zverev at the 2014 Australian Open. Coincidentally, Zverev had also been the last German junior to make it to the final in Paris in 2013. This tryst will be the third German junior singles final in history, and it's about to go down in Paris. In 1993, Heike Rusch and Andrea Glass faced off in the Australian Open junior final, and in 1995, Nicolas Kiefer and Ulrich-Jasper Seetzen battled it out in the US Open final.
The junior girls' doubles action has heated up, too. The pair of Eva Bennemann and Sonja Zhenikhova have found their way to the final and will compete for the title on Saturday.
Petzschner, a former pro, is floored by the young talent: "This shows that we've got some promising players we need to keep backing on their journey." Recently, two more 17-year-olds, Justin Engel and Diego Dedura, have been turning heads. They've already made an impact on the ATP Tour by snagging their first professional wins in Munich and Hamburg[1].
Veronika Rücker, vice-president of the German Tennis Federation, shares Petzschner's enthusiasm: "This is a major milestone for German tennis and a testament to the outstanding development of our junior program."
McDonald, born in Cardiff and raised in Schwerin, can't believe his luck: "It's freaking insane to be in the final!" He trains in Sweden and plays for Oldenburg's second Bundesliga team. Schönhaus, from Soest, feels the same way: "It's going to be a blast, being in the final with my buddy."
Petzschner's wager
While making his bets, Petzschner dared that if a German player reached the final, he would let them have free rein over his hair. "I'm keen to see what these kids come up with, and I might need to start wearing caps more often," he admitted[2].
Rising Stars to Watch[3]
- Niels McDonald: In 2025, McDonald made waves as the first German boy to claim a Grand Slam singles title this century at Roland Garros. He won the title by beating fellow German Max Schoenhaus 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-3[4].
- Max Schoenhaus: Although he lost to McDonald in the 2025 Roland Garros final, Schoenhaus is a name to keep an eye on. He previously clinched the junior doubles crown at Wimbledon in 2024, marking his first junior Grand Slam win[5].
[1] Petzschner now coaches the German Tennis Federation's youth squad.[2] Petzschner's prediction became a reality as both McDonald and Schoenhaus reached the final, with McDonald taking the championship.[3] Additional insights on the history of German tennis in junior finals at Grand Slam tournaments.[4] In 2014, Zverev became the last German boy to win a junior Grand Slam singles title before McDonald's success in 2025.[5] Zverev's junior tennis triumphs forecasted his later dominance as a professional player, including becoming a top-ranked player in the world.
- The final of the French Open junior tournament will see two German teenagers, Max Schönhaus and Niels McDonald, battling it out on Saturday.
- The German Tennis Federation is delighted by the rising tennis stars, including McDonald and Schönhaus, and Petzschner, a former pro, is also impressed with their potential in the sport.
