MASPALOMAS/STARNBERG, August 2, 2026
Laura Pigossi celebrated her 32nd birthday in perfect fashion on Sunday by capturing the ITF W100 DISA Gran Canaria Maspalomas title. The Brazilian battled back from a set down to defeat Turkish qualifier Berfu Cengiz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3 in a gripping final played before a packed Centre Court at Club Conde Jackson Tennis Maspalomas.
The championship match marked a milestone for both finalists, with each competing in her first World Tennis Tour W100 final. Pigossi, ranked No. 239 in the world and an Olympic bronze medalist for Brazil, faced an inspired Cengiz, ranked No. 353, who became the first qualifier in tournament history to reach the final in Gran Canaria.
After eliminating several seeded players during the week—including Dominika Salkova and Andrea Lazaro—both women arrived in the title match full of confidence. Their first-ever meeting lived up to expectations, producing nearly three hours of high-quality tennis.
The opening set was a tightly contested affair, with neither player able to break serve. Cengiz relied on clever drop shots and sharp variation to keep Pigossi off balance before edging the tie-break to take the early advantage.
Pigossi responded emphatically in the second set. Raising her level from the baseline, the Brazilian dictated rallies with powerful groundstrokes and raced to a dominant 6-1 scoreline to force a deciding set.
Despite showing signs of physical discomfort, Cengiz made a strong start to the decider, breaking early to move ahead 2-0. Pigossi, however, quickly regained control, leveling at 3-3 before taking command of the match with her aggressive baseline play. She won the final three games to secure a memorable 6-3 victory and lift the trophy.
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“I want to thank everyone who made this tournament possible, from the ball kids to the officials and the entire organization,” Pigossi said during the trophy ceremony. “Everyone here in Gran Canaria made me feel at home. Congratulations to Berfu for an incredible tournament. I’m very happy to win this title.”
Tournament director Oti Santana praised the level of competition throughout the week.
“We couldn’t be happier with this year’s edition,” Santana said. “The quality of the tennis was outstanding, and the tremendous support from the spectators made for a fantastic atmosphere. The fact that both finalists defeated the tournament’s seeded players shows the depth of the field. This event continues to establish Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands as a premier destination for professional women’s tennis.”
