Sand Series heads to Gran Canaria for Spanish Swing
After a 2022 opener to remember on the Plage Des Brisants in Réunion Island, the Sand Series continues as the best of Beach Tennis head back to Gran Canaria on 20-22 May.
Players from more than 20 countries and five continents - including the entire top 10 on both the men’s and women’s side - are set to take part in the tournament at the Playa de Las Canteras.
“We are very pleased to have the best players in the world in this Sand Series Gran Canaria Classic for 2022 and are convinced it will be a tournament with a spectacular level of play," said tournament director Carlos Guerra. "We want all players to leave the island looking forward to next year’s event."
Last year saw two memorable finals with Patricia Diaz and Rafaella Miiller coming from a set and a break down to triumph over Joana Cortez and Flaminia Daina. The winning pair also came through an epic semi-final against the Brazilian pairing of Vitoria Marchezini and Marcela Vita, triumphing 10-8 in a match tie-break on both occasions. Giulia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini who are the reigning ITF Beach Tennis World Champions will look to put last year’s Gran Canaria disappointment behind them after Valentini was forced to retire with injury in their opening match and will take much confidence after winning the BT400 Balneário Camboriú last week to take their second title of the year.
Meanwhile Antomi Ramos triumphed at his hometown tournament on his birthday alongside Michele Cappelletti, with the pair romping to victory without dropping a set all week. On the upcoming edition, Ramos commented ' I always want to retain my title... playing at home is incredible with my family and friends watching, on the island where I was born'. They will have their eye on France’s Nicolas Gianotti and Italy’s Mattia Spoto who are on a tour-leading five titles this year. Their run took in victory over Ramos and Capelletti at the recently concluded Balneario Camboriu, avenging defeat in the Sand Series Réunion Classic final a month earlier. Their form helped Spoto climb to a career-high ranking of No. 3 after his incredible success this year.
Andre Baran and Theo Irigaray will also look to put their defeat in Balneário Camboriú - their first early loss of the year - behind them and bounce back strongly in Gran Canaria, with both having reached the semi-finals at the event last year.
Players will need to put any thoughts of triumph or disappointment quickly behind them with the Sand Series Barcelona forming the second half of a Spanish double only a few days after the conclusion of the Sand Series Gran Canaria Classic.
The Sand Series consists of the premier tournaments on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, designed to provide the top players with opportunities to gain more ranking points and greater prize money. In addition to the Gran Canaria Classic, the Series will see the return of three more Classic tournaments in Réunion, Brasília and Saarlouis, with Barcelona and Viareggio joining the series destinations.
Sand Series 2022
25 – 27 March: Réunion Classic
20 – 22 May: Gran Canaria Classic
26 – 28 May: Barcelona
16 – 18 June: Brasília Classic
26 – 28 August: Saarlouis Classic
09 – 11 September: Viareggio