 Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 22 May 2009 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 22 May 2009 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 22 May 2009 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 22 May 2009 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 22 May 2009 | |
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| 24 May 2009 - Milan - Marco Massetani | |
| Gaio faces Arguello for the Bonfiglio title |
Two years after Matteo Trevisan's success, another home player will attempt to conquer the Grade A Italian Open Bonfiglio. Federico Gaio (ITA) came through a breathtaking encounter to beat the one remaining seed in the boys’ draw, Argentine Andrea Collarini, 76(4) 76(4), to reach the first Grade A final of his young career. Home favourite Gaio won last April's Grade 2 tournament in Florence and was runner-up in the Grade 1 Loy Yang Power Traralgon in Australia in January, showing his versatility on both hard and clay courts. Yesterday Gaio played aggressively against fourth seeded Collarini, kept his ground strokes deep and varied his style with the occasional drop shot. “Now I will call Matteo Trevisan to know the secret to winning Italian Open”, Gaio joked at the end of the exhausting semifinal.
In today’s final Gaio will face world No.47 Facundo Arguello from Argentina. After an easy quarterfinal victory against Ukranian Stanislav Poplavskyy, Arguello also swept past promising Brasilian Guillermo Clezar with a 62 62 win. This is 16-year-old, Cordoba-born Arguello’s second final of the year on clay, following his victory in the Grade 2 Copa Graiman in Ecuador last Junuary. Arguello has a very solid, rhythmical and intelligent style of tennis.
In the girls' draw, unseeded Sloane Stephens continues to surprise. The emerging star of American tennis, trained by ex top 100 ATP player Roger Smith, reached her second final of 2009, adding to her triumph ia the USTA International Spring Championship in April. Yesterday, she defeated compatriot Christina McHale 63 62 thanks to great consistency and power. The match was keenly anticipated because it represented a repeat of last year’s Orange Bowl semifinal, which McHale had won in a deciding set. In front of the Italian public Stephens proved to be a natural tennis talent. She is also in good form and can play very well on clay, although she trains mainly on hard courts.
Stephens will meet Aleksandra Krunic in the girls' final, after the 16 year-old Serbian defeated injured Ksenia Kirillova of Russia 64 61 in the semifinals. Krunic only suffered at the beginning of the match but dominated the second set. Moscow-born Krunic recently acted as sparring partner for the Serbian Fed Cup Team but does not go into final as favourite against Stephens. However, she will be able to draw upon the experience gained in Fed Cup, playing alongside Ana Ivanovic.
Up to date results and draws can be found over the weekend at http://www.tcmbonacossa.it/bonfiglio.asp
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