Ann Li wins "Tenerife's Best Kept Secret" and her first WTA title
At the WTA tournament in Tenerife, Ann Li won her first title at WTA level against one of the newcomers of the year. This week the gentlemen are attacking.
by Florian Heer from Tenerife
last edit: Oct 25, 2021, 04:35 pm
"Tenerife's best-kept secret" - it is emblazoned on an oversized billboard. Opposite is a castle-like terracotta-colored building. We are on the last few meters to the Abama Tennis Academy. The extensive resort, embedded by palm trees, with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, a golf course and an attached luxury hotel, is the glamorous venue for the first edition of the Tenerife Ladies Open.
Svitolina in top position, convincing young stars
Located in the municipality of Guía de Isora, in the west of the largest Canary Island, the stars of the WTA tour met who wanted to fight for valuable world ranking points in sunny climes at the end of October. With Elina Svitolina, number seven in the world, the Italian organizers of MEF tennis events, which have been successfully hosting various international professional tournaments for several years, even welcomed a top 10 player in Tenerife.
Even if this was only a brief pleasure. Svitolina lost her opening match against the young Colombian Maria Camila Osorio Serrano.
"It was an incredible match," said the 19-year-old South American after her biggest win to date last Wednesday. “I can't believe I won. Elina is an icon and a great fighter. I gave everything to win. "
Osorio Serrano rushes into the final
Loudly supported by some Colombian fans on the stony stands of the 600-seat center court, Osorio Serrano should continue her successful run into the final. The former number 1 in the junior world rankings and winner of the junior competition at the 2019 US Open won her first title on the WTA tour on home soil in Bogota in April of this year. In Tenerife she took after Svitolina, Mayar Sharif from Egypt, Saisai Zhang from China and the fourth-placed Italian Camila Giorgi from the competition.
Ann Li with a perfect week
In the final, however, the American Ann Li was too tough. Li reached the final of the $ 235,238 hard court tournament with victories over the Spanish wildcard owner Nuria Parrizas Diaz, Varvara Gracheva from Russia, the Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu and Alize Cornet from France.
The 21-year-old made short work of it on Sunday. Li won 6: 1, 6: 4 after 71 minutes and celebrated her first triumph on the WTA tour.
"Winning the title here means a lot to me," said Li in her subsequent press conference. “After a good start to the season with a finals in Australia, I'm on the right path afterwards, despite a few ups and downs. I was able to gain a lot of self-confidence this week. "
Like Osorio Serrano, Li will play another tournament this season. The American competes in Courmayeur, Italy this week. The teenager is serving in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
On Tenerife, too, the yellow felt ball will soon be in the spotlight again. The Abama Tennis Academy will be able to welcome the cracks of the ATP Challenger Tour this coming weekend. For the third time after 1993 and 2009 the motto is: "Bienvenidos al Tenerife Challenger!"