Last Saturday I went to Biella for the 50k challenger and this is a short report of my experience. :bounce:

I started following the first semifinal after Beygelzimer had won the first set 6-3 and Prusova was leading 5-0 in the second. Yulia showed all the skills she needed to beat the first seed Laura Pous Tio in the quarterfinals, but at the same time she often made unbelievable unforced mistakes. On the other hand, Libuse made a wonderful effort to take control of the point when she was able to, exploiting Beygelzimer's lack of consistency to close the second set for 6-0. :) In the decisive set, Yulia was able to regain composure after the second set disaster and started very well: she got an early break in the opening game and held twice to lead 3-1. Down 2-3, Libuse had a break point but wasn't able to convert it and lost the game in a controversy with a line judge. After this accident Prusova completely lost her focus: Yulia easily broke again and successfully served for the match, closing 6-3 0-6 6-2. :yeah:

Yulia Beygelzimer

Libuse Prusova

Of course, the all-Italian semifinal was the match I was waiting for, but it was clear from the beginning something was wrong with Nathalie Vierin, she could control neither her serve nor her forehand. She held her serve in the opening game, but made 6 double faults in her first three service game. :eek: At first I thought she might have been just nervous for the prospect of being the clear favourite for the title, but after losing 6 consecutive games she took a long medical time-out after the first set to heal a right shoulder problem. :sad: I really liked Gabba's attitude in the first set: she didn't only wait for Nathalie's unforced errors, but she did take the right chances to be aggressive, closing a lot of points at the net. :yeah: In the second set, Vierin was able to settle a little bit more in the match despite the injury, but Gabba was able to break again in the 4th game to lead 6-1 3-1. At this stage of the match, Gabba started feeling the pressure and her game became a little bit too defensive. Nathalie started playing more winners, and even if there were no more breaks in the next 3 games and Gabba was up 6-1 5-2, just one game away from the final, you had the feeling it was not going to be easy for her to close the match. Nathalie held serve and broke quite easily, and then at 4-5 she was able to save 2 match points; she won 4 consecutive games to lead 6-5 from 2-5, but serving for the second set she failed to close and Gabba forced it to a tie-break. At 2-2, Giulia made two horrible mistakes at the net, but then, down 2-4, she was able to turn the match around with her aggressive game. She did waste another match point, but the 4th chance was the lucky one: 6-1 7-6 (6) :D

Giulia Gabba

Nathalie Vierin

I had the chance to see a few games of the doubles final too. :)

Both Ani and Jugic-Salkic are two very talented players with a brilliant and very enjoyable game; but the Czech duo proved to be more consitent and mentally stronger, playing better the crucial points and winning two very close sets: Lucie Hradecka and Renata Voracova won 6-4 7-6(4). :yeah:

Thanx :D ;)

Lucie Hradecka and Renata Voracova

Maret Ani and Mervana Jugic-Salkic

Thanx :D ;)


You're welcome! :wavey:

Thanks for the report and pics, Doc. :D

thanks :)

Great stuff :D!

thanks

Maret Ani and Mervana Jugic-Salkic


Nice pics. Thanks.

Maret :hearts:

thank you :wavey: