The party was close to being Portuguese, but Marko Topo imposed Tiago Pereira and Frederico Silva on the same day to become champion of the 32nd edition of Faro Open, ITF M25 organized by the Faro Tennis and Padel Center, with the support of the Portuguese Tennis Federation and the Faro City Council.
Number 399 of the world ranking, the 21-year-old German tennis player prevented the triumph of Algarve Tiago Pereira (504th ATP), a younger year, beating the afternoon final by 6-1, 3-6 and 6-1.
Before the final, Marko Topo had already surpassed Frederico Silva (262º ATP) in the semi-finals, winning 6-3 and 6-4, in a postponed meeting for Sunday due to rain.
Two ITF M15 champion in Monastir last year, Tiago Pereira reached the third and most important career final, the first in the ITF M25 category, after surpassing a demanding duel against British Liam Broady (702th ATP), former world top 100, 6-1, 2-6 and 7-6 (2).
Competing practically at home, in the club he represents and for which he has already won national titles by teams, Pereira spent a lot of energy in the 2h15 triumph of Broady and had a significant emotional discharge in securing the place in the final. With just two hours of gatherings between the meetings, he eventually felt the physical wear, unlike the top, which arrived cooler after a semi-final resolved authoritatively, without facing any break.
Fresh and with a very solid base game, top led on the service (six ASES and 80% of points earned from the first service) and on the right to cause difficulties to Pereira, who despite the greatest wear and tear was able to respond in the second set and enthusiastic the audience present in the benches of the Tennis Center and Padel de Faro, hoping to attend a Portuguese celebration. However, top revealed greater resistance in the third set and confirmed the victory, thus winning the fifth career title, the fourth in the ITF M25 category and the first in 2025.
“What I lacked was really the physical, but despite having lost in the final I am very happy with this week and the way I still fought at all points. Maybe I haven’t played my best tennis, but no doubt I’m very happy to have arrived for the first time at the final of an M25 and on top of the house, ”said Tiago Pereira after the double journey that made him runner-up of Faro Open.
About the decisive meeting, the young Algarve acknowledged that he felt “a lot of difficulties in dealing with his service, because it is very strong, and also with the very powerful right”, considering top a “solid, who also fails the network side and that although not the best player to the network takes advantage of practically finished situations.”
On a special day, Tiago Pereira said he had lunch with his family between the two meetings and tried to “normalize the situation” before the final. “I tried to live with my mother, her boyfriend and my father to normalize the situation. Of course, you can’t completely disconnect the emotion, because it was a very special feat for me, but I tried my best to face it as any other game and give everything on all points. I showed that I am a born fighter and, although I did not run as I wanted, I am very happy and very proud. ”
For Marko Topo, this Sunday’s outcome was “fantastic” and a source of pride: “Fred is an excellent player. It is leftist and a great fighter, so it becomes very difficult to face. I was very happy to have managed to win in two sets and then against James, who is very talented and evolving, it was important to have more energy than him. I managed to analyze them very well and played my best, so I’m really happy. It was not an easy week because of the conditions, we had to play indoor, outdoor, deal with the rain and wait, but I adapted very well and managed to manage the nerves. ”
When Faro Open’s points are accounted for, Tiago Pereira will reach the best ranking of his career, approaching the Top 450, while Marko Topo will rise about 100 places in the world ranking.
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