The local player Isabella Pulido and the Canarian Hugo Suárez were crowned champions of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander Gran Canaria 2026 in the under-16 category, during a final held at the Tennis Academy El Cortijo.
The Canarian tennis scene experienced a day of glory this Saturday at the Tennis Academy El Cortijo, where the final of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander Gran Canaria 2026 took place. The local player Isabella Pulido and the islander Hugo Suárez claimed the titles in the under-16 category, in an edition that brought together young talents from across the country.
Isabella Pulido, competing at home, left no chance for her rival Suyapa Bienzobas. The Gran Canaria player won decisively with a score of 6-1 and 7-6, showcasing solid and mature tennis.
“I couldn't be happier, I enjoyed it here at home, in Telde, in Gran Canaria, and having my friends and family here means a lot to me,”declared Pulido after receiving the trophy. Her victory represents a boost for women's tennis in the islands, where more talents are emerging.
In the men's under-16 draw, Hugo Suárez caused a surprise. Entering as the eighth seed, the Canarian tennis player faced the top seed, Jan Zavadil, in a match that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Suárez managed to prevail in three sets: 6-3, 3-6, and 6-4. His comeback was the icing on the cake of an intense week of competition.
The tournament, now in its fifth consecutive edition in Gran Canaria, featured six categories. In the under-12 girls' category, top seed Viktoriia Koroleva defeated María Aguado Paya 6-3 and 6-1. In the under-14 girls' category, first favourite Patricia Gomar Díez triumphed over Alejandra Pelegrín 6-2 and 6-3. In the under-12 boys' category, seed Liu Xichen came back against Álvaro Rodríguez to win 2-6, 6-2, and 10-7. And in the under-14 boys' category, top seed Alberto Peña overcame Leonardo Vidaña in a tight match 6-2, 3-6, and 7-5.
The sports councillor of Telde, Cristhian Santana, expressed pride in hosting an event of this magnitude and highlighted the success of local players. The tournament director on the island, Carlota Molina, described the 2026 edition as
“an authentic organisational and sporting success”. Meanwhile, the circuit director, JF Fernández, emphasised that Gran Canaria is establishing itself as a national reference point for grassroots tennis.
The Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander, organised by Tennis Academy El Cortijo, is sponsored by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria with the collaboration of the Telde City Council and Binter. In addition to the competition, the circuit maintains its charitable aspect in collaboration with the Rafa Nadal Foundation, allocating funds to projects for young people in vulnerable situations.
For tennis fans in the Canary Islands, these victories are a testament to the promising state of the local talent pool. Both Pulido and Suárez have demonstrated that local talent can compete at the highest national level. The next event of the circuit will take place at another venue, but the memory of this day will remain etched in the minds of the island's tennis community.
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