SANTANDER, August 26, 2022
Frenchman Titouan Droguet overcame a hard battle on Friday to book his place in the championship match of the 73º Torneo Internacional RST La Magdalena. The No. 5 seed of the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 event in Santander outlasted local qualifier Inigo Cervantes Huegun 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in the semi-final.
On a sunny day in Northern Spain, Droguet broke his rival five times and won three points more to secure victory in two hours and 47 minutes.
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“I didn’t have a good feeling from the baseline but I served very well during the entire match. This helped me to keep my game. It was really tough. He seemed to be a bit tired in the end but he played very well. I am happy with the win,” Droguet told Tennis TourTalk afterwards.
“I have just come back from an injury, which took three months. I also had a tough match yesterday but physically I feel good. Maybe because I am 21.”
The World No. 462 had a good start into the season, lifting his first trophy on the Pro Circuit on home soil in Angers in April.
“My goal is to play the qualifying of the Grand Slams as soon as possible. I hope at Roland-Garros. Winning my first title felt good but then I got injured. However, it’s getting better and better, match by match,” said Droguet, who has come to Santander for the first time.
“This is the best club I have played so far this year. It is insane. Pretty good atmosphere, although I play against a lot of Spanish players. The city is also great,” said Droguet, who is coached by former World No. 226 Yannick Jankovits and practices at the Tennis Academy in Cap d’Agde close to Montpellier.
Gutierrez returns to final
In Saturday’s singles final, Droguet will take on top seed and 2019 champion Oscar Jose Gutierrez of Brazil, who edged past 19-year-old Spaniard Alejandro Manzanera Pertusa 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 15 minutes.
Cervantes Huegun and Droguet were back in action later in the day when the home favourite captured the doubles title alongside his compatriot Sergi Perez Contri. The No. 3 seeds defeated Droguet and fellow Frenchman Gregoire Jacq 6-3, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 16 minutes.
