Santino Contreras, the emotional dedication after victory in Spain: “This is for grandad. A hug up there in heaven”

For Santino Contreras (on the right in the photo), success at the FIP Bronze Unomas Lanzarote I in Spain was special not only from a sporting perspective, but also on a human level. The 16-year-old Argentine has in fact decided to dedicate this triumph to a special person: “This is for you, grandad, who recently celebrated your birthday. A hug up there in heaven”. Contreras won alongside Paraguayan Facundo Dehnike, 17. These two players lifted the trophy thanks to their victory in the final against Samu Rivas and Antonio Sanchez (3-6 6-4 6-3). In the semi-finals, they had defeated Yoan Boronad and Jaume Romera (7-5 6-1). Thanks to this triumph, Contreras secured his second CUPRA FIP Tour title of the year after the one won at the FIP Bronze Santa Maria in Brazil in early March. “Thanks for this weekend, Facu – said Contreras – It was a pleasure for me to fight alongside you. Thanks to my family and friends for the support they give me every day”.

In the women’s draw there was a dream triumph for Martina Vera and Daniela Portilla. These two players became champions in Lanzarote, defeating the top two seeded pairs in the women’s draw: first they overcame, in a very tight semi-final, the No.2 seeds Carmen Castillon and Maria Teresa Moriñigo (6-7 6-4 6-4), then in the title match they defeated the top seeds Victoria Kurz and Anna Ortiz (6-3 7-5). Kurz had been coming off a very positive period: in recent months they had won the title at the first historic FIP Bronze of Prishtina, in Kosovo, and at the FIP Bronze in Cyprus. For Spanish player Vera, born in 2010, this was the second title won in her country in her career after the FIP Bronze in Elche last year. For Portilla, born in 2009, meanwhile, this was her second consecutive triumph: last week she had won the FIP Bronze of Istanbul. “Champions in Lanzarote – said Vera after the victory – what madness to have achieved this result”.