Andrés Santamarta, the Spanish tennis's last joy in 2024

When many had already written off Spanish tennis in 2024, Andrés Santamarta took it upon himself to shake things up thousands of kilometers away from our country. Two weeks ago, he boarded a plane to compete in the last two tournaments of the calendar: the renowned Eddie Herr (in Bradenton) and the celebrated Orange Bowl (in Plantation). Two of the most recognizable events in the category now bearing his name. That's how the Valencian does it, returning home with twelve victories out of twelve matches.

Things started off well at the J300 in Bradenton, where Santamarta only dropped one set in six matches, which was snatched from him in the semifinals by the American Jagger Leach. A day later, in the battle for the title, it was of little use to Maxim Mrva being the fifth seed, as he received a severe beating in the form of a double 6-1. Many might have thought that fatigue would affect Andrés when it came to facing the J500 in Plantation, but the outcome was almost identical. Another set lost in six matches, this time in the quarterfinals. For the final match, facing the 15-year-old French sensation Moise Kouame, the Valencian gritted his teeth and clinched this prestigious double (7-5, 6-3). Minutes later, we could hear his first statements as the winner.

"I started the second set with much more energy, while he didn't produce his best tennis, he started to slump a bit," he assessed after turning around a first set where his opponent served to take the lead but then the Spaniard stepped up to stop him and reverse the score at the last moment. With momentum on his side and confidence soaring, the protégé of Sergio Gallego stepped up a gear in the second set and didn't let up. "When you're winning the second set 4-1, besides playing very well, it's normal to have thoughts of winning the match. I try not to, but sometimes you can't help it," emphasized the champion.

First, the Eddie Herr, and then the Orange Bowl. Those who don't follow the junior circuit closely may not appreciate the importance of this end-of-season combination, so it's time to highlight how rare it is to see the same player string together these twelve consecutive triumphs. How many men had done it before? Only four: Andy Roddick (1999), Dominic Thiem (2011), Miomir Kecmanovic (2016), and Thiago Tirante (2019). Considering the age, the green clay surface, the tremendous wind blowing throughout the week, and the challenge of competing in mid-December, it's evident that succeeding at this level requires more than just a forehand or a backhand. "I came here to compete these two weeks, to try to finish the year with a better ranking, so in 2025, I'll be able to participate in more professional tournaments without relying on so many junior events," Andrés pointed out. "Of course, I felt a lot of motivation and energy for these two tournaments, but I never thought I would win both," he concluded with a touch of humor.

A 2024 LOADED WITH WARNINGS

Just as true as it is that Santamarta was not the top favorite to achieve this feat, his numbers this season were signaling that something significant might be brewing. In 2023, we first saw him when he won the Mutua Madrid Open under 16, captured in that iconic photo alongside Carlos Alcaraz on the Manolo Santana Court at the Caja Mágica. Then came the European Championship with Spain, the title of junior champion of Spain this summer, or the honor of sparring in the Davis Cup in Málaga, where he met one of his greatest idols: Rafa Nadal. A series of events that have culminated in this explosion of character and victories across the Atlantic.

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Those at G Tennis must be pleased, the academy where he currently trains in Valencia under the guidance of Sergio Gallego, Iván Gallego, Jorge García, and Dani Gimeno, among many other names on the technical team. Not even two months have passed since his good reputation allowed him to debut in the Challenger circuit thanks to Pablo Andújar's Faulcombridge Cup, where we were able to sit down with him and get to know him a little more. He even gave us a good headline:

"As a player, I have something different from others, which is my fighting spirit; I always come out very motivated, sometimes I get too worked up, so I often have to control myself and find the middle ground. That gives me an edge when it comes to playing and winning matches, although it can also turn into a negative if I get too fired up or get angry at the wrong times," he warned in those statements back in October. Tomorrow, when we see him ranked No.4 in the junior world ranking, it will be impossible not to feel excited about what might happen next year when we see him compete in Melbourne, Paris, London, or New York.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Andrés Santamarta, la última alegría del tenis español en 2024