Article 10 Apr 2024

2024 Sand Series gets underway in Ribeirao Preto

Dan Murphy

10 Apr 2024

The first Sand Series of this year gets underway later today in Brazil in Ribeirão Preto with the world’s top players taking to the sand once more.

On the women’s side, Patricia Diaz and Rafaella Miiller are the team to beat with the reigning World Champions riding a fifteen match winning streak, which includes titles at BT400 Macena Open, BT400 Balneário Camboriú and the BT400 Pure Beach event. The joint-World No. 1s took home seven titles last year including two Sand Series crowns in Gran Canaria and Brasília.

Reigning champions Ninny Valentini and Giulia Gasparri are back at their first Sand Series as a pair since the former had to retire during last year’s Gran Canaria Classic before facing an extended layoff after shoulder surgery. The pair still took home the opening two Sand Series of last year at the Réunion Classic as well at this tournament and will look to get back to winning ways this week.

Sophia Chow and Vitoria Marchezini will also be ones to watch this week. Having teamed up halfway through the 2023 season at the Gran Canaria Classic and making the final there, the pair never looked back and took an impressive seven titles in the second half of the year including the most recent Sand Series in Valinhos, propelling both players to the top five in the rankings for the first time.

Meanwhile, men’s World Champions Nicolas Gianotti and Mattia Spoto will look to win their first Sand Series on Brazilian sand since the inaugural event in Brasília in 2021. They come into the event with two titles already this year at the BT200 Foz Do Iguacu and the BT400 Balneário Camboriú, and so will feel confident of success.

No. 2 seeds Michele Cappelletti and Andre Baran will also fancy their chances, having won last week’s BT400 Pure Beach as well as the latter being victorious at this event last year with Nikita Burmakin. The Italian-Brazilian due have won nine Sand Series between them since the format was introduced including three in Brazil and so are no strangers to success in the sport’s epicentre.

Live scoring will be available from the first round and live streaming will be available from the tournament page

The Sand Series consists of the premier tournaments on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, designed to provide the top players with opportunities to gain more ranking points and greater prize money.