Gran Canarian tennis player Lucía Rodríguez defeated her compatriot Gabriela Paun 7-6, 6-4 in the round of 16 of the ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, held at the Gran Canaria Tenis & Padel Center. She will now face Slovak Kristina Novak, the eighth seed.
The Canary Islands' women's tennis continues to be represented in the decisive phase of the ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Gran Canarian player Lucía Rodríguez, from the Tennis Academy El Cortijo, qualified for the quarter-finals on Thursday after winning a high-level match against her compatriot Gabriela Paun. The match, held at the Gran Canaria Tenis & Padel Center, ended with a score of 7-6, 6-4, reflecting the evenness that dominated the game.
The first set was the most contested, with both players showcasing high-quality tennis. The equality was maximum, and the set had to be resolved in a tie-break, where Rodríguez managed to keep her composure to take it. In the second set, the Gran Canarian maintained her concentration at key moments and managed to close out the match without needing to go to a tie-break, confirming her place in the next round.
Rodríguez, who began her participation in the tournament from the qualifying round, highlighted the importance of this victory.
“It’s not easy to get this far in a tournament of this magnitude,” she said after the match. The player valued the opportunity for Canary Islands players to compete against international rivals and assured that she will approach the next match with the aim of continuing to grow.
With this result, the ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ensures at least one player from the islands in the quarter-finals of the singles draw. Lucía Rodríguez's next opponent will be Slovak Kristina Novak, the eighth seed of the tournament, in a match that promises strong emotions.
The round of 16 also saw the elimination of Canary player Silvia Bosch in the doubles draw. Bosch partnered with Valencian Yaiza Bordià, but they lost to the duo of Olga Bienzobas Fernández and Australian Naomi McKenzie by a resounding 6-1, 6-0.
The tournament's sports director, Susan Sananes, highlighted the level displayed during the day and praised the atmosphere at the Gran Canaria Tenis & Padel Center.
“We are seeing high-quality tennis, and the audience is responding excellently,” she stated.
The ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria continues to gather over a hundred players from more than 20 countries, featuring young talents and players looking to gain experience and points for the world ranking. The competition now faces its decisive phase with the quarter-finals, where Canary Islands fans can continue to enjoy an international event that puts Gran Canaria on the map of women's tennis.
For the local audience, Lucía Rodríguez's presence in the quarter-finals provides an extra incentive. The Gran Canarian player has demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level and will seek to surprise against Novak, a rival with more experience on the circuit. The match will take place at the Gran Canaria Tenis & Padel Center, with the time yet to be confirmed.
The ITF W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has established itself as an important event in the tennis calendar of the islands, attracting players from around the world and offering a top-level spectacle. The organisation expects a good turnout for the quarter-final matches, which promise to be exciting.
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