Santamarta Roig becomes first Spaniard to win multiple J500 titles

Andres Santamarta Roig is the first Spanish player – boy or girl – to win multiple J500 singles titles after lifting silverware at J500 Gaspar in Brazil on Sunday.

Aside from Santamarta Roig, who defeated home favourite Joao Pedro Didoni Bonini 6-4 6-0 in the boys’ singles final, the only other Spanish boy to have won a J500 is Albert Ramos-Vinolas in March 2006.

This is the second time the 18-year-old has won a J500 after he conquered all before him at J500 Plantation, which is also known as the Orange Bowl, in December. His victory at J500 Gaspar is the joint-biggest title of his career.

Santamarta Roig, who rises to a career-high No. 4 in the ITF World Tennis Tour boys' rankings, was joined on the winners’ podium by Thea Frodin of the United States. Her victory at J500 Gaspar was Frodin's maiden J500 title and her first triumph on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, in singles at least, for more than a year.

Her last singles win came at J200 Santo Domingo in February 2024, but in Gaspar she was in superb form and clinched victory by dispatching Argentina’s Sol Ailin Larraya Guidi 6-3 6-1 in the girls’ singles final.

Following her triumph, Frodin rises 29 places to a career-high No. 17 in the ITF World Tennis Tour girls' rankings. 

In doubles, Brazil’s Victoria Luiza Barros ​prevailed alongside Yoana Konstantinova of Bulgaria in the girls’ draw, while American duo Ronit Karki and Jack Satterfield did likewise in the boys’ competition.

As a reminder, J500s provide premier playing opportunities for players on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors and are effectively a rung below Junior Grand Slams in terms of standing and the ranking points on offer.

J500 Gaspar was the second of seven J500 events on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors calendar this year. J500 Offenbach is next in April.