The best youth tennis in the world, in El Cortijo - La Provincia

The eighth edition of the Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl starts, the international junior tennis tournament that attracts Gran Canaria to the young tennis promises from around the world. From October 19 to 27 the facilities of the Cortijo Club de Campo Tennis School, in Telde, Gran Canaria, become the epicenter of the best youth tennis of the moment. The Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl is a tournament that is part of the Tennis Europe Junior Tour, a circuit governed by the European Tennis Federation and considered the best springboard for a successful tennis career. Through him players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Maria Sharapova. All the players that occupy the top 10 both ATP and WTA have participated in this prestigious circuit.

Today the presentation of the tournament took place at the facilities of the Country Club Cortijo, with the presence of the counselor of sports of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Francisco Castellano, the president of the Spanish Tennis Federation, Miguel Díaz and the tournament director, Acaymo Medina. Representing the main sponsors have attended the general director of La Isleña, Pedro Ortega and the Commercial of Used Vehicles of Nissan Brisa Motor, Francisco Hernández. The event has also been attended by Rafael Arado, President of the Canarian Tennis Federation and José Sepúlveda, President of the Gran Canaria Tennis Federation.

The Councilor for Sports of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Francisco Castellano, wanted to highlight "the magnificent trajectory and potential of an event that is walking with certainty and for its ninth edition, proof of work and delivery of the organization." For his part, the President of the Spanish Tennis Federation, Miguel Díaz, has assured that tournaments such as the Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl "are of great importance for our Federation, because they give our players the opportunity to score points without leaving home. One of the successes of Spanish tennis today, "emphasized Díaz," resides in clubs and schools like this. We are facing a tournament with the highest world level from which the first figures of tomorrow will emerge. "

The Director of the event, Acaymo Medina, has invited all tennis lovers and the general public to come from Saturday, Saturday until Sunday, October 27 "to enjoy the good tennis that is going to be seen. We are very grateful to the institutions and sponsors. And also to the parents and students of the school. " For his part, the General Director of La Isleña, Pedro Ortega, recalled that the company has supported the Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl from the beginning, "it is a very positive event for Gran Canaria, here the stars of tomorrow are forged." Likewise, the representative of Nissan Brisa Motor, Francisco Hernández, has assured that for them it is "an honor that they count on us and we hope that they continue doing it."

700 players of 60 nationalities

More than 700 players of 60 different nationalities, including tennis players from the United States, Russia, Holland, Argentina, Great Britain, Hong Kong, South Africa or Canada, have signed up for this new edition of the Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl. More than 30 international federations have sent the best players in their country accompanied by their coach, thus counting on the presence of the best youth players in the world. The tournament will take place in the sub12 and sub14 categories for men and women on six clay courts and four fast courts of the Country Club Farmhouse. Both categories will be played in Grade 1, the highest level granted by the Tennis Europe Junior Tour, a full recognition for this tournament awarded since its sixth edition. The Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl is the only tournament on the circuit that performs two categories in Grade 1 the same week, hence it is known as the Little European Grand Slam.

All the players in the final table have full hospitality, that is, they have the stay paid and the organization covers the accommodation and living expenses of all the players until they lose and also of the coaches that are selected by the federation of each country. All this means an added plus that attracts numerous players, each time with more level.

The high Canarian representation, as well as its quality, are the best guarantee of the level of youth tennis on the islands. In fact, in the previous seven editions, five titles remained in the Canary Islands: Carlota Molina from 2012 to 2014, Nerea Guerra in 2016 and Juan Camilo Pérez in 2017. Up to 20 percent of this year's registrants come from the islands, the half of them from Gran Canaria. Athletes like Mireia Bethecourt, Elena Rey, Zara Cabrera, Pablo Padilla, Oscar Morales or Daniel Serradilla will have the opportunity to measure themselves with the elite of world youth tennis. The Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl also has the unconditional support of the great figures of Canarian tennis, such as Carla Suarez, Magui Serna, Marta Marrero or Noelia Pérez.

The `pre-tournament phase will take place on October 19 and 20. From here will leave eight players who will go to the final phase with those who join with a direct pass. The final phase will begin on Monday, October 21 until Sunday 27. The individual teams are 64 players in both male and female categories. Both categories will also play doubles. In parallel, a consolation phase will also be held for all those players who are eliminated in the first round.

Maximum level in the Tennis Europe Junior Tour

The Tennis Europe Junior tour was born in 1990 and since its inception was considered the best platform for a successful tennis career. Players like Rafa Nadal, Justine Henin, Roger Federer, Caroline Wozniacki, Andy Murray, Victoria Azarenka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Maria Sharapova have gone through this tour. The circuit has a weekly updated ranking, a Masters tournament at the end of the year and prizes for the players of the year and its growth is undoubted. Of the 43 tournaments with which it started in its first year, today it gathers 350. More than 410,000 spectators pass each year through one of these tournaments to see the nearly 12,000 young tennis players from more than 110 countries taking their first steps in the international competition. In turn, the headlines in more than 900 newspapers and magazines and the more than 14,000 minutes a year broadcast on radio and television ensure that the general public already knows those who in the future will be the great names of world tennis.

Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl, European reference in just eight years

The Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl is celebrated for the first time in 2012. About 400 players from 36 countries arrived attracted by a tournament that started its category 3 career in the Tennis Europe Junior Tour. Already then marked a milestone to be the first time in the Canary Islands the sub 12 international category was disputed and the third time in Spain. The level of the participants gave great impact since its first edition and the sixth year the Tennis Europe Junior Tour upgraded it by granting the highest distinction, grade 1. After these important achievements was the work of a whole team that since The principle has opted for grassroots sport on our islands.

With all this, the Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl is already consolidated as a reference tournament in the circuit and one of the best in Europe. The organization works with the firm conviction that sport must be one of the fundamental axes of the integral education of the youngest and with the aim of enabling the incursion in the high competition of Canarian athletes. The remoteness and high cost of travel leave excellent athletes behind. The possibility of having a top-level international tournament in Gran Canaria has been a challenge and the best of rewards.

Gran Canaria Yellow Bowl 2019 is organized by El Cortijo Club de Campo with the support of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through its Insular Sports Institute and within the Gran Canaria European Island Sports Program, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation and the Federation of Gran Canaria tennis. They sponsor Lopesan Hotel Group, La Isleña Inerza, Hotel AC Iberia, Hydramar, Aguas de Teror, Perpetuo Socorro Hospital and Nissan among other collaborators.