Stuttgart's Bella Farias hits the ball during a tennis match against Ramstein's Gianna Tak on Oct. 18, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Stuttgart’s Bella Farias didn’t need to know Saturday’s opponent, Ramstein’s Gianna Tak, was undefeated for her to realize she was in for a tough test.

Finding out that fact after defeating the Royal in straight sets 7-5, 6-0 at Ramstein High School added emphasis to her result: Farias had passed with flying colors in her final match before the season-ending championships.

“That gives me confidence for Euros, knowing that she was undefeated and got to be able to play against her and beat her,” Farias said. “She’s such a good player.”

Tak herself recognized the importance of facing last year’s fourth-place finisher in the girls singles European bracket – and gave her a good lesson right before the senior steps into the T2 Sports Health Club in Wiesbaden, Germany, next week.

“It shows me what kind of competition that I have that I will be facing,” Tak said. “I need to be more prepared.”

Farias complimented her opponent, especially Tak’s play in the first set. The Panther, whose record now sits at 4-1, struggled returning serves at times.

“I love the spin on her serves,” Farias said of Tak. “Her forehand crosscourt was really good, too.”

Ramstein's Gianna Tak tries to loosen up while talking to coach Alfredo Rios during a match against Stuttgart's Bella Farias on Oct. 18, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart's Matthew Suber reaches up to hit a ball at the net in a boys singles match against Ramstein's Will Singletary on Oct. 18, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Will Singletary serves during a boys singles match against Stuttgart's Matthew Suber on Oct. 18, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

In the second set, it was all Farias. The senior Panther seemingly could do no wrong, celebrating point after point as she was on a roll.

Perhaps no game illustrated the set more than when Farias was serving up 4-0. She trailed the game 40-15, giving Tak an opportunity to break and perhaps give the Royal a much-needed jolt.

The Stuttgart senior staved off two game points, though, to even the score. Then, Farias and Tak went back and forth before Farias finally could get two points needed to collect the game.

“It was really exciting for me,” Farias said. “It was really fun. In my head, I was like, ‘It’s OK if I lose the game – just don’t give up.’”

Every bounce seemingly went against Tak in the second set. She admitted afterward that she let things get to her.

That’s something she’s going to work on ahead of Euros.

“That second set really told me that I need to get out of my head, keep a clear space,” Tak said.

Like Farias, Stuttgart boys No. 1 singles player Matthew Suber improved to 4-1 on the year with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Ramstein’s Will Singletary on Saturday.

The Panther at times overpowered his foe, leaving Singletary helpless to reach many shots.

“Almost every shot, you need to be able to place the ball with power,” Suber said. “You just need to be consistent with it.”

Suber now awaits his seed in a wide-open boys singles tournament at next week’s Euros. The Panthers’ lone loss on the season came in straight sets to SHAPE’s Alejandro Cuesta, a returning European qualifier.

Suber said he could make a deep run in Wiesbaden.

“I feel confident; I feel like I have a good chance at Euros,” Suber said.