MEERBUSCH, March 19, 2021

Organizers of the Just Pools Kirschbaum International have announced that the total prize money of the ITF World Tennis Tour tournament will be increased from $15,000 to $25,000 this year. The 16th edition of the indoor hard-court event has been relocated from Kaarst to Meerbusch and will be held from April 11 to 18, 2021 at the Teremeer Sports and Tennis Resort in Meerbusch situated in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

“Despite facing tough challenges due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, we are proud to host this year’s Just Pools Kirschbaum International with a higher prize money thanks to the support from the ITF and the German Tennis Federation,” tournament director Marc Raffel said.

The tournament can look back on a great history, as popular tennis cracks like Milos Raonic, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Mischa Zverev, Maximilian Marterer, Wimbledon doubles champion Philipp Petzschner and Miloslav Mecir have already competed in Kaarst.

Two-time defending champion of the Just Pools Kirschbaum International is Igor Sijsling from the Netherlands, who lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2019. Last year’s ITF World Tennis Tour event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The 2021 champion will earn 20 ATP Ranking points in addition to his prize money cheque.

The tournament will be part of the DTB Internationals powered by Wilson and will feature a 32-man singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw.

“We don’t expect that spectators will be allowed but all matches will be streamed online,” Raffel said. “If fans are admitted, a day ticket will cost 15 Euros and can be purchased through the tournament’s official website.”

Teenager Max Rehberg has already been awarded a wild card into the main draw. The 17-year-old from Aschheim is one of Germany’s most promising tennis talents and is sitting at World No. 33 in the ITF Junior Rankings.