VILLENA/STARNBERG, October 28, 2024

The Juan Carlos Ferrero Tennis Academy continues its busy schedule of international tournaments this year. After hosting the ATP Challenger Tour event and before transitioning into a series of junior tournaments that will take place throughout November (including the ITF Junior and Tennis Europe events), last week saw the completion of a ITF World Tennis Tour W15 event.

The tournament stood out for its high level of play, particularly among the young Eastern European players. The standout player of the event was undoubtedly Joy de Zeeuw. Recently turning 18, the Dutch player claimed victory in both doubles and singles, showcasing an impressive combination of physical prowess and mental fortitude that promises a bright future on the WTA Tour. De Zeeuw competed in her first professional tournaments on a hard court. Over the last two weeks in Spain, she reached the finals in Torello and now won in Villena.

Among the Spanish players, Alba Rey and Judith Perello were the most notable. Rey successfully advanced from the qualifying draw to reach the quarterfinals, winning all her matches in straight sets. However, her aspirations ended when she faced Bulgaria’s 17-year-old Elizara Yaneva in a match where she couldn’t maintain her previous level of play. Meanwhile, Perello, one of the title contenders, lost in straight sets to another promising Dutch 18-year-old, Isis Van Den Broek, who eventually had to withdraw from her semifinal match due to an injury.

Despite rainy days affecting the tournament, the event at the Ferrero Tennis Academy concluded successfully and is set to return next year with increased prize money. Starting in 2025, all ITF Men’s and Women’s tournaments in Spain will offer $20,000 in prize money instead of $15,000.