Madrilenian tennis player Carmen Gallardo triumphed over Slovenian Kristina Novak with a score of 5-7, 6-2, and 6-3 in the final of the ITF W15 held at the Gran Canaria Tenis & Pádel Center.
Madrilenian tennis player Carmen Gallardo was crowned champion of the ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria after an exciting comeback against Slovenian Kristina Novak. The match, held this Sunday at the Gran Canaria Tenis & Pádel Center, ended with a score of 5-7, 6-2, and 6-3 in favour of Gallardo, who managed to overcome a challenging start.
The final began with Novak imposing her game from the back of the court, allowing her to take the first set by a narrow 5-7. However, Gallardo did not back down and responded decisively in the second set. The Spanish player increased her intensity, reduced unforced errors, and dominated the exchanges to level the contest with a 6-2 that restored equality to the scoreboard.
In the final set, Gallardo maintained the pace and managed the key moments with maturity to close the match with a 6-3 that awarded her the title. The victory was particularly emotional for the player, who was visibly moved as she lifted the trophy in front of her family, who had accompanied her throughout the week on the island.
“I am very happy with this hard-fought victory. I want to thank the magnificent work of the entire organisation, my family, who has supported me throughout the tournament, and my coaches, who help me grow as an athlete and as a person. I have felt very comfortable since day one. I also want to congratulate my opponent, Kristina Novak, because she played a great match and demonstrated her high level,” declared Gallardo after the match.
The final capped off a week of high-level tennis that brought together young talents and established players from the international circuit. The ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has established itself as a reference point for women's tennis in the Canary Islands, attracting an audience that enjoyed high-quality matches throughout the week.
The trophy presentation ceremony was attended by the president of the Canary Islands Tennis Federation, José Sepúlveda, who congratulated the finalists and highlighted the excellent moment that tennis is experiencing in the Islands. “Canarian tennis is enjoying a sweet and celebratory moment. We have an increasingly important calendar, with national and international circuits that allow athletes to compete at home and continue to grow. But today the applause is for the players of this ITF W15, who have been the true protagonists and have provided us with a magnificent spectacle throughout the week,” said Sepúlveda.
Meanwhile, the tournament's sports director, Susan Sananes, emphasised the organisational effort behind the event. “It is not easy to achieve the sporting level we have had in this edition. There has been a lot of work, effort, and dedication for many months, but everything has turned out wonderfully. I want to thank the commitment of everyone who has been part of the tournament, because tennis has shone thanks to the joint effort of referees, ball boys, volunteers, media, organisational staff, and of course, the players, who have been the great protagonists,” stated Sananes.
The ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is organised by CD Costa Arenas, sponsored by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria through the Insular Sports Institute, and in collaboration with the Canary Islands Tennis Federation, the Gran Canaria Insular Tennis Federation, and private brands Hidramar Group and Incapol. The event has become a boost for grassroots tennis in the Canary Islands, which sees these tournaments as an opportunity for local young talents to compete with players from other countries without leaving the islands.
For the public of Gran Canaria, hosting events like this represents a tourist and sporting attraction that reinforces the island's image as a tennis destination. The next edition of the tournament is already on the calendar, and expectations are high to continue seeing the growth of women's tennis in the Canary Islands.
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