56 minutes were enough for Adria Soriano Barrera to become champion of the 24th edition of the Loulé Open by Cimpor this Sunday, March 14th.
The 24-year-old Colombian tennis player (ranked 554th in the world) wasted no time and got the better of the first seed: Frenchman Jules Marie (223rd), by 6-3 and 6-2.
This Sunday's final pitted two players who beat Portuguese tennis players in the semi-finals face to face: Soriano Barrera was superior to Duarte Vale, Marie confirmed her favoritism against Pedro Araújo.
Resolved in less than an hour, the final had only one meaning. With more weapons, Soriano Barrera didn't hesitate and reached perfection in terms of service (90% points won with the first ball, 0 break points faced).
With a well-studied game plan, the Colombian managed to be very aggressive without making too many mistakes and put Marie in a very uncomfortable position, driving the Frenchman to despair in the first few games.
«I'm very happy, especially because I had lost the two previous finals and so I was very nervous. I know Jules well, I watch his videos on YouTube, so I had a certain advantage", he revealed after sealing the victory. «
I know his game well and I tried to be as brave as possible and play aggressive tennis so as not to let him force too many turnovers. That left him frustrated and I also served very well, I couldn't ask for more,” he added.
At 24 years old, Adria Soriano Barrera won the third title of her career and second in Portugal, around a year and a half after inaugurating the trophy with a perfect week in Setúbal. Both titles took place in the M25 category, being the most important.
Jules Marie was also happy in Portugal (two titles in Guimarães in 2013 and one in Porto in 2023) and this Sunday he was looking to debut in the top 200, a goal he postponed after losing the final.
Even so, he made a “positive assessment” of “a good week” in which he acknowledged having been “overcome by an opponent who was much better today and had all the merit in achieving the victory”.
This was the 14th edition of Loulé Open by Cimpor. In October, international tennis returns to the Clube de Ténis de Loulé with the fourth edition of the women's tournament.
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