Former World Champion Guga Kuerten Encourages Young Tennis Players

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The tennis atmosphere, involvement with the family, and daily growth are some of the factors that Gustavo Kuerten highlights as important for the training of new athletes. “Many do the impossible because they like it,” said Guga.

Argentine Ariel Gianfranco Salo, 43, is a beach tennis teacher in Canasvieiras, Florianópolis. Guga’s home city. They didn’t know each other until recently. They both have incredible stories of overcoming challenges.

Guga recalls that his family “had to sell the piano, jewelry and almost sold the house” to sustain him at the beginning of his career.

Gian came to Brazil three years ago, when he spent his first season living on the street, under the stairway leading to Central de Canasvieiras beach. Gian is a tireless coach. And he lives off teaching on the beach in exchange for food or even some of the tourists’ change. Gian has a dream, working with Guga.

The first step was taken. Maybe that’s it. But it’s already working. The two of them met last weekend, at “Semana Guga Kuerten”. The event gathers more than a thousand players.

It was just a few minutes together, but Gian was delighted. “He’s super kind, he has a kind heart, good energy, he’s a fantastic person,” says Gian.

Guga Kuerten Week

The Guga Kuerten week gathers more than 1800 athletes and is in its 11th edition. Traditional court tennis competitions begin with handicapped athletes and include juvenile athletes, kids, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years old.

“I avoid the word adversary, we play in favor of our team, never against anyone, with this spirit we build hope, joy, this enthusiasm from the kids,” Guga teaches in a prophetic tone.

“Calm down, have patience, have friends, have family, you will be able to overcome everything,” he says.

Bernardo Lopes, tennis player and CEO of Kona, Guga Kuerten’s new brand of companies, points out that Beach Tennis, in particular, has had a boom in all Brazilian states in recent years. “Men and women of all ages have been practicing the sport, and this event has become important to encourage the sport even further”.

According to Guga’s communications advisor, this year’s event had 7,000 visitors and was finished after the holding of 1,065 tennis matches and a total of 530 Beach Tennis matches.

All the finals were played on Sunday, October 13th, at the Jurerê Sports Center. At the age of 18, João Victor Loureiro, who is part of Time Guga, beat Márcio Silva by 4/6, 6/3, 7/6 (3) and became champion in the category that collects points in the ITF Jr ranking. Among the girls, Belgian Amelie Van Impe overcame Juliana Munhosz by 6/1 and 6/4. At the age of 16, Victor Bini, for men, and Isabela Romanichen, for women, were champions of the 2019 Guga Kuerten Cup.

In the 14-year-old male category, Gustavo Tedesco won the tournament and as an award will compete in Le Mondial Lacoste, in London, between November 13th and 17th, with all expenses paid for the athlete and an attendant.

Check out all the results of the Guga Kuerten Children’s Tennis Cup and the winners of the Tennis Kids. In addition to the children’s and youth games, the Guga Kuerten Beach Tennis Cup also closed with a win for Luciano and Geraldo in the PRO category.

The Guga Kuerten Week is held by the Guga School in partnership with Genial Investimentos, Caixa Econômica Federal, Aurora Alimentos, Lacoste, CPB Jurerê Il Campanario, and the support of the Clube Doze de Agosto, Daikin, Jurerê Internacional, Lounge, Espaço Laser, Kona, RGK Investimentos Imobiliários, Butik, Sinergy, Elemídia, Publar, Exclusive, ITF, CBT and FCT.