"We push each other!": Max Schoenhaus on the rising stars of Germany's next generation

At just 18 years old, Max Schoenhaus of Germany has already made a name for himself on the international tennis stage. The Soest-born player, now based in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, is considered one of the most promising prospects of his generation – and someone who clearly sees his future on the professional tour. He is coached by Björn Simon, Lukas Storck, and Hannes Heyder, and trains either at the Hessian Tennis Federation in Offenbach or at the historic SC 1880 Frankfurt.

Junior Successes

Schoenhaus’ junior career has been full of highlights. In 2024, he won the Wimbledon boys’ doubles title, and just a year later, he reached the singles final at Roland Garros. Although he lost to compatriot Niels McDonald, the match itself made German tennis history: it was the first time two German players had faced each other in a Roland Garros final.

“Of course it was disappointing to lose the final,” Schoenhaus reflects. “But we both felt that we had achieved something for German tennis.”

First Challenger Match Win

The transition to the professional stage is happening step by step. Schoenhaus claimed his first victory on the ATP Challenger Tour last week at the Schwaben Open in Augsburg, albeit in unusual fashion. His opponent Jakub Nicod, a close friend and teammate at TC Sprendlingen, was forced to retire in the third set due to injury. “It’s not the way you want to win a match,” Schoenhaus admitted.

Nerves were also part of the day: “My focus so far has been on the junior tour, and I don’t have much experience on the pro circuit yet. Of course, getting a wildcard to play here is fantastic, but a little bit of nervousness comes with it. That’s normal.” Still, he considers it a milestone:

I’ve been working hard for this. Sure, there’s some pressure to perform, but our whole generation is strong, and we push each other.

Schoenhaus is part of a new wave of German players trying to establish themselves on tour. He prefers, however, not to measure himself solely by results. “If you work on the right things every day, the results will come naturally.”

Offensive on Court — Grounded off It

Away from the court, Schoenhaus remains grounded. “I’m an open person. I love spending time with my family. My niece and nephews bring me a lot of joy.” When he’s not traveling for tournaments, he enjoys playing golf — the perfect way to switch off, as he describes it. His life is full of travel, and he collects memories from special places such as the IMG Academy in Florida. “Five minutes to the beach — that’s hard to forget.”

He also loves Italy, not least for its coffee culture. “I’m a big coffee fan and I enjoy a good espresso.” Whenever his schedule allows, he can be found at the stadium following his favorite soccer club, Borussia Dortmund.

On court, Schoehaus defines himself as an aggressive player. “I try to control the rhythm of the rallies. I love being the one dictating the tempo and mixing in different variations.”

He takes particular pride in his one-handed backhand: “It gives you more options, feels more natural, and offers greater variety. You can hit with heavier spin or carve a deep slice – and sometimes, you even run a little less,” he laughs. His role model is Lorenzo Musetti, whom he admires for both his elegant style of play and his personality off the court.

Schoenhaus’ next goals are already mapped out. He plans to compete once more in the juniors at the US Open, finish the year ranked inside the top 10, and secure valuable wildcards for the 2026 Challenger season. And a junior Grand Slam title to cap off his junior career? “That would be a nice way to finish,” he says with a grin.