GRAN CANARIA, August 3, 2024
It’s been a special week for Andrea Lazaro Garcia, as the 29-year-old has reached the biggest championship match of her career at the ITF W100 DISA Gran Canaria. In an all-Spanish semi-final on a sunny Saturday at the Conde Jackson Tennis Club in Maspalomas, the Barcelona native knocked out top seed and last year’s runner-up Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 6-4.
Under blue skies on Center Court Gran Canaria, the World No. 359, who hasn’t dropped a set all week, converted five of her six break-point opportunities to secure victory in one hour and 15 minutes.
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“I was ready and was just going for it. I gave my best. I just tried to play my game and that’s it. It worked out very well,” said Lazaro Garcia. She describes herself as an aggressive player, who tries to dictate the rallies with her forehand and her serve.
What has made her so strong during the week in Gran Canaria? “I love the Canary Islands,” she said, with a big smile on her face. “I played here a few years ago and also made it to the final. I guess it’s just a special place for me. I haven’t returned since then but I am very happy to be back, reaching another title match.”
Lazaro Garcia enjoys her time off the court by relaxing and chilling at the pool. “I played in Casablanca last week and won the tournament there. My body was a bit exhausted and I needed some time to rest,” she admitted.
The former World No. 180 has captured three titles this season, lifting the trophies of the ITF World Tennis Tour events in Antalya, Santa Margherita di Pulan and Casablanca. “It’s been a really good year for me so far. I had to deal with two injuries earlier in the season and my ranking has dropped. So, I needed to start all over again, competing in lower-tier tournaments. I am happy I have made it to the 100K, playing my best tennis.”
Lazaro Garcia is based in Barcelona. “I practice at the Reial Club de Tennis Barcelona, where the ATP 500 event takes place. I have a really good team with me. They are very supportive and they work hard with me every day,” she said.
Parrizas-Diaz ousts Bassols Ribera, hopes for Maspalomas Dunes visit
Earlier, in another all-Spanish semi-final, Nuria Parrizas-Diaz defeated No. 2 seed Marina Bassols Ribera 6-1, 7-5. The fourth favourite sent down three aces and won 63 per cent of her first-service points to advance in one hour and 26 minutes.
“I felt well on the court. I tried to stay aggressive with hard-hitting shots all the time and I went for the winners,” said Parrizas-Diaz, who is focused on her tennis this week, not having the chance to discover more of the island so far. “I hope that I will make it to the dunes tomorrow after winning the final,” the 33-year-old from Granada added with a smile.
The Maspalomas Dune system is a remarkable natural wonder in the Canary Islands, celebrated for its stunning beauty and diverse ecosystems. Spanning 400 hectares, this area is protected by the Canarian government as a Nature Reserve of special value. It features a spectacular beach, a dynamic sand dune system, a palm grove, and a brackish lagoon. This unique blend of desert and oasis is located at the southern tip of Gran Canaria and is bordered by the renowned Maspalomas resort.
Piter/Stollar triumph in doubles
Later in the afternoon, Katarzyna Piter of Poland and Fanni Stollar from Hungary clinched the doubles title. The No. 2 seed beat the tournament’s top-seeded team of Italian Angelica Moratelli and US-American Sabrina Santamaria 6-4, 6-2. The encounter lasted one hour and 20 minutes.
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