An overview of the Forza e Costanza 1911 center, with the packed stands (photo GAME)
The final of the “Carolina Zani Melanoma Foundation” women’s internationals in Brescia, now in its 15th edition, will be between the 38-year-old American Varvara Lepchenko and the 24-year-old Ukrainian Katarina Zavatska. On the clay of Tennis Forza e Costanza 1911, at the end of a very long day – which started at 10am and ended after 7pm – two of the favorites of the day before emerged. And for Zavatska, holder of the title, there will be the chance to score a double in Castello. A feat previously achieved only by one other player, curiously also Ukrainian: Irina Buryachok, who scored between 2009 and 2011.
In the first semi-final, Varvara Lepchenko managed not to suffer from the fatigue of two matches in a single day. Against her compatriot of Asian origins Ann Li – 15 years her junior – the former WTA number 19 won the first set in the tie-break, lost the second but managed to regain control of the match in a dominated third set. A demonstration of class and experience, for a left-handed player who still has something to give before finishing her career, and who in Castello will be hunting for her 15th professional title, with the first ones dating back to 2005.
In the second semi-final, Katarina Zavatska won the fourth match of the week in the third set, the third in a comeback. Already at the start of the day, the Ukrainian had won the derby with her compatriot Baindl after being one step away from elimination. Then, in the afternoon, she repeated herself in front of the 20-year-old Russian Polina Kudermetova, sister of the former top 10 Veronika. The 2023 winner showed her usual extraordinary determination and had more energy than her rival who, having lost an infinite seventh game in the third set, essentially raised the white flag in the following one.
In the morning – with the stands already packed – the last remaining Italian player had made it to the quarter-finals. Nuria Brancaccio from Campania played on par for two hours against the American Ann Li, showing highly effective tennis on clay, but suffered a comeback from a rival who has a past in the top 50 and a complete repertoire. It’s a shame, because it was an easy match, but the 23-year-old Italian leaves Brescia with good feelings. Italy instead smiles twice, thanks to another 23 year old, Aurora Zantedeschi from Verona. Immediately out in singles at the hands of the Turkish Oz, the Venetian player took revenge together with the Spanish Yvonne Cavalle Reimers, overcoming the pair formed by the Kazakh Kulambayeva and the Russian Reyngold. After being down by a set and a break (6-3 4-3), the Italian and the Spanish changed gear, closing 10 points to 6 in the super tie-break. The singles final will be held on Sunday morning, starting at 10.30 am and entry, as always, free.
RESULTS
Singles, quarter-finals: Li (USA) b. Brancaccio (Ita) 2-6 6-3 6-4, Lepchenko (USA) b. Rame (Fra) 6-3 6-3, Kudermetova (Rus) b. Seidel (Ger) 6-2 6-1, Zavatska (Ukr) b. Baindl (UKR) 2-6 7-5 6-3.
Semifinals: Lepchenko (USA) b. Li (USA) 7-6 3-6 6-2, Zavatska (Ukr) b. Kudermetova (Rus) 3-6 6-4 6-2.
Doubles, final: Cavalle Reimers/Zantedeschi (Esp/Ita) b. Kulambayeva/Reyngold (Kaz/Rus) 3-6 7-5 10/6.
