Errani deluxe: is in the ‘quarters’ at the Veneto Open. Too much Eala for Pawn

A deluxe Sara Errani is served. To get the better of Ukrainian Katarina Zavatska and win a place in the quarter-finals of the Veneto Open promoted by the Veneto Region, the 37-year-old from Romagna had to use her entire technical repertoire and experience. Because the 22-year-old from Lutsk pushed straight away, making it clear that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park for the darling of the Gaiba crowd. So much so that ‘Sarita’ had to sweat the first set in a tie-break in which she started from behind and recovered by taking advantage of all the cuts that her tennis allows her, including those given by the forehand chops, a not that common to see (not even on grass). “I knew I had to change the pace as much as possible – said Sara – to create more difficulties for her. And then with my grip, grass law becomes more complicated.” All solutions, hers, capable of breaking the rhythm of the all-powerful tennis of the blonde from the East, aggressive in her shots and attitudes, between a shouted “Da” and a forehand thrust with full arm. But after two hours and 10 minutes of marathon, it was the recent Roland Garros doubles finalist who raised her arms in the air. Also in the stands enjoying the show (and studying…) was Alexandra Eala, the 19-year-old Filipina who had secured her place in the quarter-finals already in the early afternoon on court no.1. She will be Sara Errani’s next opponent, after defeating her peer from Palermo Giorgia Pedone with a double 6-3. A good match, theirs, which started immediately in a tight manner with two games going to the advantages and both won by the Italian. In the long run, however, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy student found her rhythm, showing off all her qualities: great backhand defense, aggression and ability to find the point with the forehand.

“But also a lot of mental strength,” adds Eala after the match. “I was good in the key moments and I brought home a match that was more complex than the score could say.” True, because in any case Giorgia Pedone tried, scoring more than one winner with both fundamentals and trying to stay connected in the moments of greatest difficulty with serve and return. It wasn’t enough. Just as the generosity of Renata Zarazua, a Mexican among the top 100 players in the world, was not enough, condemned to surrender by the physicality and left-handed winning shots of another 19-year-old, the American Robin Montgomery. She is a little naive at times (which is why she still hasn’t broken the barrier of the WTA Top 100), but she is capable of explosive tennis, even dominant thanks to serve and forehand. Not only that: she is also capable of a gesture of great fair play. Ahead by a partial, and facing a set point against in the second, Robin conceded the point – and therefore the set – to her opponent after a dubious ball had led the chair umpire to repeat the point itself. “I asked my coach how my ball seemed to him, when he told me it was out I had no doubts, it was right that the point and set went to my opponent, she deserved it,” Montgomery explained after the match. She thus first won the sportsmanship match and then the one on the pitch with a score of 6-4 3-6 6-4 in 2 hours and 28 minutes. Friday will be entirely dedicated to the quarter-finals of the singles (and the semi-finals of the doubles), with the first match scheduled at 1.30 pm. The most anticipated match of the day, obviously Errani-Eala, will take place no earlier than 6pm on the Central Court. The atmosphere begins to heat up. And not just meteorologically.

Central – 1.30pm
vs. Robin Montgomery
(8) Bernarda Pera vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Alexandra Eala vs (4) Sara Errani Not before 6pm

Court 1 – 2.00 pm
Ankita Raina vs Susan Bandecchi
Estelle Cascino / Camilla Rosatello vs (2) Miriam Kolodziejova / (2) Anna Siskova
Hailey Baptiste / Alycia Parks vs Angelica Moratelli / Conny Perrin

RESULTS
Singles, second round: Eala (Phi) b. Pawn (Ita, Wc) 6-3 6-3, Montgomery (USA) b. Zarazua (Mex, 5) 6-4 3-6 6-4, Errani (Ita, 4) b. Zavatska (Ukr) 7-6(4) 7-5. To conclude: Todoni (Rou) vs Parks (USA, Q).
Doubles, first round: Kolodziejova / Siskova (Cze, 2) b. Andreeva / Carle (-/Arg) 6-1 7-5, Rosatello / Cascino (Ita/Fra) b. Abbagnato / Pawn (Ita, Wc) 6-4 6-4.