FARO/STARNBERG, November 9, 2025
Marina Bassols Ribera broke a two-year title drought by winning the Faro Ladies Open, Portugal’s oldest women’s international tennis tournament, held from November 2 to 9 at the Centro de Tenis e Padel de Faro. Supported by the Faro City Council and the Portuguese Tennis Federation, the event concluded on Sunday with the Spanish fourth seed lifting the trophy.
In the championship match, World No. 264 Bassols Riberacame from behind to defeat 554th-ranked Dutch qualifier Britt Du Pree 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 after one hour and 53 minutes.
The 25-year-old from Blanes, Catalonia, had not dropped a set all week before the final, but Du Pree came out strong, dominating the early exchanges and winning four consecutive return games to take the opening set. Bassols Ribera, however, quickly regrouped and turned the match around with smart tactical adjustments.
Marina Bassols Ribera defeats qualifier Britt du Pree 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 to win the 11th title of her career — first in exactly two years. A big step towards the Australian Open qualifying (she still has four tournaments to play). pic.twitter.com/czQjviHsJa
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) November 9, 2025
“At the beginning, I was very nervous, but I knew what I was doing right and wrong,” Bassols Ribera said after the victory. “I tried to calm down and went into the second set feeling positive because in tennis, things can change quickly. She was controlling the rallies from the baseline, so I started varying the height and spin of the ball — and that made the difference.”
The triumph marked Bassols Ribera’s 11th career singles title and her first since November 2023, when she captured a WTA 125 crown. At her career-best, she reached World No. 105 before injuries derailed her progress.
“I knew I was playing well — I had just reached the final in Baza — so it was only a matter of time,” she said. “Last year’s injury was a tough process, but I feel good again. I love Portugal — the lifestyle, the food, the people — and winning here makes me even happier.”
With her victory in Faro, Bassols Ribera now edges closer to a return to the top 200 and remains in contention for a spot in the Australian Open qualifying draw early next year.
As for 18-year-old Britt Du Pree, despite falling short in her second career final, she leaves Portugal after a strong four-week swing with a career-high ranking — breaking into the top 500 for the first time.
