Santista and Leo Branco are guaranteed in the semifinals
The semi-finals of the first edition of the ITF Beach Tennis Finals have been defined. The eight couples classified for the next phase of the competition, four men’s and four women’s, see the participation of eight Brazilians.
The search for places in the grand final of the unprecedented tournament will take place this Friday (6), starting at 1pm, in the BRB Nilson Nelson Arena, in Brasilia.
The third and final round of the qualifying phase, this Thursday (5), was decisive for the next phase of the tournament, which distributes a total prize pool of 100,000 dollars, the largest in the sport.
For the Brasilia Group, Giovanni Cariani and Daniel Mola surprised the world number 1 pair, formed by the French Nicolas Gianotti and the Italian Mattia Spotto, by 1/6 6/2 6/2, and ended the group stage undefeated with three they win and now they face Leonardo Branco and Allan Oliveira.
“Our determination and our spirit of desire to win made the difference. We chased each other, we followed our strategy. We are focused and we want to reach the final”, said Daniel Mola. “We knew it would be a war to play against them, but we managed to turn the situation around, playing lighter and happier,” continued Cariani.
For the Saarlouis Group, André Baran and the Italian Michele Cappelletti, world number 3, qualified after beating Felipe Loch and the Spaniard Antomi de Ramos, by 1/6 6/4 6/2. Accustomed to reaching the finals of various tournaments around the world against Gianotti and Spotto, the duo will face each other for the first time in the semi-finals and the victory will be worth the leadership in the world rankings.
“This really only happens in the Finals, a different tournament from what we are used to on the circuit. We have never faced each other in the semi-finals, fate wanted it to happen and we will try. I appeal to the fans, it has been a fantastic year and we are making history. We are grateful and we need the fans to become champions,” Baran said.
In the same group Branco and Oliveira also advanced to the semi-finals by beating the Italian Luca Andreolini and the Russian Nikita Burmakin, in 2 sets to 1, with a score of 0/6 7/6 6/2. “There’s no other word to describe the pair: overcoming. We didn’t start the first set very well, but we outdid ourselves. We’re super happy with this win and the result we got today,” Allan said. “It was a very difficult match, we didn’t start well, but we fought until the end,” added Léo.
In the Gran Canaria Group, the Italian Veronica Casadei and the Spanish Ariadna Graell qualified in first place with three victories and will play against Rafaella Mùller and Patty Diaz.
Sophia Chow and Vitória Marchezini achieved their second win in the group, beating Italians Flaminia Daina and Nicole Nobile, 7/5 6/3. “We were very focused today, energy all the time, positive, together, that made a lot of difference,” Sophia said. “I am very happy with the victory and the ranking, because today we were more focused and adapted,” added Vitória. In the semi-final the Brazilian couple will face the Italians Giulia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini.
In the Réunion Islands group, the world numbers 1, Rafa Mùller and Patty Diaz, beat Gasparri and Valentini, 6/2 6/4, and secured themselves in the semifinals, with two victories and 1 defeat. “Very happy with the result, we managed to do our best and tomorrow we will have another battle,” he said.
Results this Thursday (5):
Brasilia Group
Giovanni CARIANI (BRA) [3]/Daniel MOLA (BRA) d. Nicolas GIANOTTI (FRA)/Mattia SPOTO (ITA) [1] -1/6 6/2 6/2
Diego BULLETTINARI (ITA)/Carlos VIGON (FRI) d. Mathieu GUEGANO (FRA)/Hugo PARONETTO RUSSO (BRA) – 6/3 7/5
Saarlouis Group
Leonardo GARROSSINO BRANCO (BRA)/Allan OLIVEIRA (BRA) d. Luca ANDREOLINI (ITA)/Nikita BURMAKIN (RUS) – 0/6 7/6 6/2
Andre BARAN (BRA)/Michele CAPPELLETTI (ITA) [2] D. Filippo COGO LOCH (BRA) [4]/Antonio Miguel RAMOS VIERA (ESP) – 1/6 6/4 6/2
Réunion Islands Group
Sofia CIMATTI (ITA)/Greta GIUSTI (ITA) d. Eva FERNANDEZ PALOS (ESP)/Raquel IOTTE (BRA) – 6/0 6/2
Patricia DIAZ (FRI) / Rafaella MIILLER (BRA) [1] D. Giulia GASPARRI (ITA) [3]/Ninny VALENTINI (ITA) – 6/2 6/4
Gran Canaria Group
Sophia CHOW (BRA)/Vitoria MARCHEZINI (BRA) [2] D. Flaminia DAINA (ITA) [4]/Nicole NOBILE (ITA) – 7/5 6/3
Program for this Friday (6):
Semifinals
Central Court
1pm
Giovanni CARIANI (BRA)/Daniel MOLA (BRA) vs. Leonardo GARROSSINO BRANCO (BRA)/Allan OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Not before 3pm
Veronica CASADEI (ITA)/Ariadna COSTA GRAELL (ESP) vs. Patricia DIAZ (FRI) / Rafaella MIILLER (BRA)
Not before 6pm
Andre BARAN (BRA)/Michele CAPPELLETTI (ITA) vs. Nicolas GIANOTTI (FRA)/Mattia SPOTO (ITA)
Not before 8pm
Giulia GASPARRI (ITA)/Ninny VALENTINI (ITA) vs. Sophia CHOW (BRA)/Vitoria MARCHEZINI (BRA)
Source: Terra
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