Carla Fernandez and Iago Fuertes, Spanish talent shines in La Coruña

“Get back up and improve,” Carla Fernandez said less than a week ago after being eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the Malaga P1. The 19-year-old Spaniard, together with partner Nerea Guerra Santana, needed only a few days to regain her momentum and claim another victory on the CUPRA FIP Tour. The success came at the FIP Bronze in La Coruña, Spain, where the pair started as the second seeds. Standing in their way in the final were the young Claudia Ordoñez and Daniela Portilla, who had defeated the top seeds, Portuguese duo Ana Nogueira and Constança Gorito, in the semi-finals (7-6 6-2). In the decisive match, Fernandez and Guerra came out on top in three sets (3-6 6-4 6-4), confirming their excellent form on Tour, which in just over a month has seen them reach the semi-finals of the FIP Gold Shanghai, the final of the FIP Bronze Osaka and win the FIP Bronze Selangor, before this latest triumph.

 

In the men’s draw, the spotlight was on the talent of young Iago Fuertes, fresh from winning the European title with Spain’s junior team and then becoming world champion with the same national side. Partnering Ferran Insa, the 16-year-old claimed his second title on the Tour close to home – he was born in Narón, less than an hour away – following his previous success at the FIP Bronze Kolding last May. This time, Fuertes and Insa, the second seeds, defeated top seeds Boris Castro and Pau Miñano in a thrilling final (7-6 3-6 7-6). “Winning my second professional tournament at home is something incredible, especially when you have your whole family and friends supporting you and cheering for you from outside the court. Thank you to everyone,” said Fuertes.