FIGUERA DA FOZ/STARNBERG, July 6, 2025
After five heartbreaking final losses earlier this season, Portugal’s Tiago Pereira finally broke through on Sunday to win the biggest title of his career at the inaugural Figueira da Foz International Men’s Open.
The 21-year-old from the Algarve, ranked World No. 365 and seeded fourth, produced a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over rising US-American talent and World No. 470 Darwin Blanch in just 63 minutes. Blanch, a 17-year-old prospect from the Ferrero Tennis Academy in Alicante, had lost only nine games en route to the final, but struggled with the blustery conditions and a packed stadium at the Figueira da Foz Tennis Club.
Que fabuloso encontro do Tiago Pereira, do melhor. 3.º e mais importante título da carreira na Figueira da Foz. À sexta final este ano, conseguiu! Top
6-2 e 6-1 vs Darwin Blanch. Além de ter jogado muito lidou melhor com o forte vento da final. pic.twitter.com/AVzCWk9ZiJ
— Steve Grácio (@stevefgracio) July 6, 2025
“This is unbelievable,” Pereira said after the match. “It’s been a battle in every final. I’ve given everything, and it hadn’t gone my way—until today. I’m extremely happy that my first win came here. Being the first edition of this tournament makes it even more special.”
Pereira, currently the No. 6 Portuguese player, improved to 39 match wins in 2025 and showcased a composed, disciplined game that thrived in the windy conditions. He didn’t face a single service break, saving five break points across the match. His movement and consistency frustrated Blanch’s aggressive game and helped him control the tempo throughout.
“This was one of the best matches I’ve ever played,” Pereira said. “I knew the wind might favor me since he plays with such little margin. Even if he had played as well as he did all week, I think I still had a chance today.”
The victory marked Pereira’s third ITF World Tennis Tour title, following two wins in Monastir last year, but this M25-level triumph—the highest of his career so far—is his first on home soil. Earlier this year, he fell short in two finals in the Algarve.
With the title, Pereira is set to achieve a new career-high ranking, moving closer to the top 300. Though Grand Slam qualifying is on his radar, he remains grounded: “Tennis is a very difficult sport, and I can’t promise anything except to give my best in every match and keep growing as a player and as a person.”
Pereira’s singles win capped a dominant week for Portuguese tennis in Figueira da Foz, coming a day after the doubles title was claimed by fellow countrymen Vasco Prata and Diogo Morais.
The Figueira da Foz International Men’s Open, an ITF M25 event offering $30,000 in prize money, was held from June 29 to July 6 with the support of the Portuguese Tennis Federation and the local municipality. In just two weeks, the same venue will host the 9th edition of the Figueira da Foz Ladies Open (July 20–27), a prestigious ITF W100 tournament and one of the premier stops on the national women’s calendar..
