The 18-year-old tennis player Max Schönhaus is crowned the best young man in the world in his last junior game. The triumph should be the starting signal for a successful career.
In early summer, when the talented tennis player Max Schönhaus, 18 years old, received greater media attention for the first time in his young career when he had just reached the final of the French Open junior competition and suffered a narrow defeat in front of almost 4,000 fans, he revealed his goals for the rest of the year to hr-sport: “Win tournaments and make it into the top eight in the junior world rankings.” No sooner said than done.
Schönhaus, born in Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, currently lives and trains in the Rhine-Main area, was crowned the best young player in the world at the weekend in Cengdu, China Success at the so-called ITF Junior Finals also climbed to fifth place in the junior world rankings. “That’s great. I’m very happy to have played my best tennis in the final. I’m very happy,” said Schönhaus after the safe final victory against the Romanian Theodor Alexandrescou (6:2, 6:0).
The dream of being on top of the world
The ITF Junior Finals are the (smaller) counterpart to the ATP finals for professionals; the best eight talents of the tennis year fought for the title in Chengdu. Schönhaus received 23,000 dollars in prize money and 1,000 world ranking points for his triumph. A German had never achieved such success before.
For the Hessian-by-choice, the finals also marked the end of his youth. From now on, he no longer just has a taste of a men’s tournament here and there, but ideally, in the medium and long term, to compete on the court with the best in the world, with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Co. It’s a long way, no question, as he’ll first have to work his way into the big competitions through smaller tournaments, but “a huge dream,” as he says.
Schönhaus recently won his first men’s title in Tunisia in a competition in the lowest category. “You don’t forget your first professional title, sticking with it pays off,” he told hr-sport afterwards. Schönhaus wants to take part in two more senior competitions this year before the current number 820 on the men’s tour finally turns professional from 2026. A big step, as he suspects. “There are fewer risks taken and less nonsense,” said the 18-year-old, who experts believe is well prepared.
Max Schönhaus proudly presents his trophy in Chengdu.
National coach praises “attitude on and off the pitch”
“Max has taken a big step this year and played an incredible season,” said youth national coach Philipp Petzschner after the triumph in China, “this title is the well-deserved reward for his hard work, his passion and his attitude on and off the pitch.”
Along with Justin Engels, who already regularly competes on the men’s tour, and Niels McDonald, Schönhaus is one of the country’s greatest talents. At the Grand Slam in Paris, Schönhaus only lost in the final, but at Wimbledon he made it into the top four. The one-handed backhand, which has become rare and hit extremely hard and precisely, is particularly remarkable. So there is plenty of potential – and apparently also the right mindset. Schönhaus regularly mentions “The Top 10” as his long-term goal, for which he is prepared to work hard and subordinate a lot of things.
From Dreieich via Tunisia to China
He visits the family in Soest whenever he can. However, this is often not the case. Schönhaus is staying in a room at the Hessian Tennis Association in Offenbach, from where he tours the region, Germany and the whole world. Last season, for example, he played for TC Rot-Weiß Sprendlingen from Dreieich (Offenbach district) in the second Bundesliga, training alternates between Offenbach, Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. And most recently, Schönhaus played consecutive tournaments in Tunisia and China. A wild mix.
Of course, this is all “just the beginning,” explained youth national coach Petzschner, who believes Schönhaus will also be able to quickly gain a foothold in men’s tennis. “I am convinced of that.” In any case, the basis for a good start has been laid. Thanks to a successful last year of youth, especially thanks to the title in Chengdu and the outstanding placement in the world rankings, Max Schönhaus is entitled to various wild cards for Challenger tournaments in 2026. Let’s get started, the big tennis world is waiting.
