Bucharest, first title together for Gala-Jensen and Martinez-Manquillo. Leti further etches her name into CUPRA FIP Tour history

They were the number 1 seeds, and they lived up to expectations. In Bucharest, the FIP Gold title in the Romanian capital and the 150 FIP Ranking points went to David Gala and Enzo Jensen in the men’s draw, and Lucia Martinez and Leti Manquillo in the women’s. After losing two finals, at FIP Platinum Albania in Tirana and FIP Silver Alcalá de Guadaíra, Gala and Jensen finally lifted the trophy, beating Manuel Aragon and Albert Roglan 7-5 7-6 in the final. The number 5 seeds had made it all the way to the title match. “We have come through an intense and demanding week,” said Jensen. “We were coming off a disappointing performance in Paris, but we reacted well”. “An important win,” added Gala, “which gives us the strength to keep moving forward with determination towards the next tournaments”.

 

WOMEN If the men’s final lasted one hour and 41 minutes, Lucia Martinez and Leti Manquillo needed one hour and 46 minutes to win their first tournament together, beating Araceli Martinez and Laura Lujan 6-2 7-5. For Manquillo, it is her 17th title on the CUPRA FIP Tour (her fifth of the season after four FIP Silver titles): a record that further establishes her as the most successful player in the history of the circuit. It is a second FIP Gold title in less than a month for Martinez, after the one she won in San Luis, Mexico, in August. “First of all, thank you to the crowd for coming out in such large numbers this week”, said Manquillo. “Tactically, we played a perfect match. We had some difficulties in the second set, but thanks to our teamwork we managed to stay focused on the match”. “It was our first tournament together, but I have to say it was worth it”, added Martinez. “I have to congratulate the organisers because it was a really great tournament”.

 

A FIP Gold tournament will also be played next week, with the CUPRA FIP Tour heading to São Paulo, Brazil.