Carlos Gimeno Valero, 19, reveals biggest lesson learned from Juan Carlos Ferrero

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Rising Spanish star Carlos Gimeno Valero admitted he didn't expect to win the Gran Canaria Challenger but he played a great tennis throughout the week and ended up winning his maiden Challenger title. Gimeno Valero, who is now enjoying a career-high ranking of No.

295 in the world, handed a 6-4 6-2 loss to Kimmer Coppejans in the Gran Canaria Challenger final to lift the biggest title of his short career. ''I feel great after getting this win. At the start of the week, I wanted to play my best game but did not expect to win the tournament.

I'm just very happy and I hope to play like this in the next tournaments,'' Gimeno Valero told the ATP Challenger website. Gimeno Valero broke Coppejans in the opening game of the match and then held on to his serve the rest of the set to win the opener.

The Spaniard then claimed two breaks in the second set to earn a straight-set win. ''Yes, I was nervous at the start of the match. But with my coach, we made a very good plan and to be more aggressive than the last matches.

I feel like I took the initiative and played very well in this match,'' Gimeno Valero admitted.

Gimeno Valero showed great mental strength

Gimeno Valero claimed three wins in three sets and two wins in straight sets en route to winning Gran Canaria.

''I feel like I needed these kind of matches, to play third sets against top players. That gave me a lot of confidence in the final,'' Gimeno Valero noted. Gimeno Valero trains at the Juan Carlos Ferrero's academy. ''Building a strong character on the court.

Being more aggressive, to play your game and be more confident. This is the biggest thing I learned from him,'' Gimeno Valero said, when asked what's the biggest lesson he has learned from Ferrero. Gimeno Valero is now taking a week off before he returns to competitive action.