QUITO/STARNBERG, December 8, 2025
Slovenian Polona Hercog, a former World No. 35, captured the title at the inaugural WTA 125 Quito Copa Banco Guayaquil after defeating Argentina’s Luisina Giovannini 6-2, 6-1 in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Quito Tenis & Golf Club in Ecuador’s capital on Sunday.
Experience made the difference in this final. The 34-year-old Hercog, owner of three WTA titles and 19 crown on the ITF Pro Circuit, executed her game plan to perfection, taking control early behind her powerful and reliable serve.
Giovannini, 19, tried to respond to the pressure but could never find the right moment or rhythm to turn the match around. Competing in her first WTA 125 final, the young Argentine will surely take this week as a valuable learning experience, having showcased impressive quality throughout the tournament.
Highlights Final Polona Hercog Luisina Giovannini #WTA125Quito Copa @BancoGuayaquil
Con casa llena en el Quito Tenis y Golf Club (El Condado) pic.twitter.com/hfeuZeppVR
— KCtenis (@KCtenis) December 7, 2025
“I’m very happy and proud of how I managed this entire week. This year is proof of all the work behind the scenes – not only mine but also from the people who help me. After all the injuries I faced, this feels like a sweet comeback,” said Hercog, who underwent wrist surgery at the end of March, a setback that dropped her ranking to No. 672. Thanks to this title, she will rise to No. 333.
“I’ll go home now and prepare as best as I can. I’m excited for next year. I’ll see which tournaments I’ll start with. My ranking had dropped a lot before coming to South America, but for now I just want to enjoy the moment, take things day by day, keep playing tournaments, and remember that enjoying the game is the most important part,” added the player from Maribor.
Hercog reached her career-high ranking of No. 35 in 2011 and has notable wins over Madison Keys, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens, Caroline Garcia, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Shuai Peng, and Lucie Safarova, among others. Her best Grand Slam results include two third-round appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Giovannini’s week in Quito also deserves praise. With her run to the final, she climbs from No. 281 to a career-high No. 226, placing her in position to compete in Grand Slam qualifying events. Born in Coronel Moldes in the province of Cordoba, she trains at Alejandro Cerundolo’s academy and was accompanied in Quito by coach Viu Franco.
The final was officiated by Ecuador’s own Jimmy Pinoargote, a gold-badge international chair umpire, who oversaw a WTA final for the first time.
Second Edition Confirmed for 2026
“It’s a great feeling to see the tournament finish this way. The weather helped, of course, but the most important thing is that the players felt comfortable. The general feedback from the players and the WTA supervisor was that the club facilities were top-notch and everything met the expected standards,” said Nicolas Lapentti, former World No. 6 and tournament director.
“We’ve already spoken with the WTA; only the exact date needs to be finalized. It will be toward the end of the year, but the second edition is confirmed,” Lapentti added, assuring that the WTA 125 will return to Quito in 2026.
