JOINVILLE/STARNBERG, August 4, 2025
It was a special weekend for Brazilian tennis at the Joinville stage of the BRB/Engie Tennis Circuit ITF World Tennis Tour M15 event, where local talent shone brightly. On Sunday, 25-year-old Igor Gimenez claimed the first professional title of his career with a 6-3, 7-5 win over fellow Brazilian Luis Felipe Miguel in a hard-fought final that lasted nearly two hours.
“It’s the first professional title I’ve ever won, and I’m very happy,” Gimenez said, visibly emotional after his breakthrough victory. “Last year I was playing my best tennis, going through a great streak, and then, out of nowhere, I got injured and ended up in surgery. The start of this year was really tough. I hadn’t been getting results, but I was playing well and knew it was just a matter of time. I had to keep working and believing.”
Gimenez thanked his coach for unwavering support through a long recovery that included three surgeries. “After going through that, continuing to believe is hard, but you have to dream together,” he said. “And I thank my sponsors as well—because we all know how expensive tennis is and how much we need people to believe in our dream.”
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
The final was played in front of a packed crowd at Joinville Tenis Clube, and Gimenez credited his mental strength for making the difference. “It was a very tight match, decided by small details. I managed to break serve at key moments and stayed focused throughout. I’m thankful to everyone who supported me during the week.”
Runner-up Luis Felipe Miguel, commonly known as Lipe, also had a week to remember. By reaching the final, the 19-year-old earned his first eight ATP Ranking points, marking his debut on the ATP singles rankings. Lipe will soon return to Florida, where he plays college tennis for State University and studies economics.
“This week in Joinville was really special for me,” he said. “Not only did I get my first ATP point, but I also reached my first ITF final. I almost went back to Brasilia after Sao Paulo’s ITF event, but here I realized I’m playing at a good level. These points will help me a lot when I return to the U.S. to keep competing in tournaments.”
Adding to the moment, Lipe and his younger brother Guto captured the doubles title in Joinville, just one week after winning their first team title together. “It’s always been a dream to play alongside him,” said Felipe. “To have done it, and won, two weeks in a row makes it even more special.”
