- Published: 09 May 2024
The Slovenia Para Open was tinged with blue, thanks to the triumphs of Giada Rossi (in the photo) and Matteo Parenzan, who confirmed the results of the world finals in Granada 2022, imposing themselves in an even more clear way.
The singles matches therefore ended in glory for Italy led in Lasko by the technical director Alessandro Arcigli and the technicians Massimo Pischiutti and Hwang Seunbit.
In class 1-2 Rossi beat the Korean Seo Su Yeon 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-5). At the start she recovered from 1-4 to 7-4, she was in turn overcome (7-8), from 9-9 she got a set-point and missed it. At the second (11-10) she scored.
In the second set the athlete from Zoppola took the lead to 3-1 and from 4-3 she extended to 8-3 and 10-4. On the fifth opportunity, returning from the timeout, she completed the job. When the game restarted the trend did not change (4-1). Rossi was brought closer (4-3) and restarted at 6-3 and from 6-4 to 9-4. She had five match points (10-5) and celebrated at the first one.
«Since last year in Lasko – comments Rossi – I hadn’t met Seo, with whom I had only won twice before today, albeit a very important one at the 2022 World Championships. After the defeat in 2023 I spoke with my coach Alessandro Arcigli and we had agreed that in the future I would have to follow 95% of the same tactics, but sometimes inserting the push on the forehand, alternating it with very deep cuts always on the forehand or directed towards the center/forehand, on the change between forehand and backhand so to speak . I’m very happy because, despite the 3-0, it wasn’t an easy match and every point was a lot of pain. I am sure that it will be a battle between us in the future too, but now I am aware that I can play it on equal terms.”
Parenzan in class 6 defeated Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-5). From 5-3 he found himself behind (5-6) and thereafter we fought point by point until 9-9. The last two rallies belonged to the Trieste player, who in the second half took the lead at 4-1 and from 7-3 was reached (7-7). He found the strength to reach three set points (10-7) and to realize the last one.
After the change of ends, the Asian replied (3-0) and Parenzan caught him (3-3) and from 5-5 he made an irresistible escape towards victory, celebrated by raising his arms to the sky.
«The tournament was very difficult – explains Parenzan – also because I was coming from a period in which, due to the defeat in Lignano Sabbiadoro, I had lost a bit of confidence. Little by little during the match I grew a lot and the decisive set in my opinion was the last set against the Swede Azulay in the quarter-finals. I was very focused and I made very few mistakes and that partial gave me incredible confidence and allowed me to arrive with great momentum in the semi-final, where I took revenge on Perry, and in the final. It was a complicated match with Thainiyom, he has a very long list of victories and has played in many important matches. I managed to play well and I am very satisfied. It was exactly what I was looking for and what I wanted. Despite the many mistakes made in the first matches in the group, I managed to remain very solid in my head and positive, to try to bring home as many victories as possible. I couldn’t be happier. Lasko is an event I am very attached to, a bit like Roland Garros for Rafael Nadal. I won it for the fourth year in a row and it is something extraordinary. I am happy above all for having confirmed my value to myself and for having understood that a defeat is not the end of everything and that we can start again with great conviction.”
Today the doubles will begin and the only Italian couple registered is Michela Brunelli and Giada Rossi, who are starting in the WD5 class. In the single group of five they will have a rest day today and will face the Serbian Kristina Arancic and Zeljana Ristic tomorrow at 11.30 am at table 14 and the Dutch Maria Elisabeth Boers and the Saudi Ghaliah Alanazi at 4.30 pm at table 14 and on Saturday at 10.50 at table 11 the Australian Lisa Daniela Di Toro and the Finnish Aino Sirri Maaria Tapola and at 2.10 at table 13 the Koreans Se Su Yeon and Joon Jiyu.
The meetings will be broadcast live at the link https://www.youtube.com/@zvezasis-spk8675/streams.
