Gianotti, Spoto and Gasparri, Cimatti star at Sand Series Saarlouis
Nicolas Gianotti and Mattia Spoto and Giulia Gasparri and Sofia Cimatti each claimed back-to-back Sand Series titles after following their Sand Series Pärnu triumph with victory at Sand Series Saarlouis this weekend.
Gasparri and Cimatti extended their record in their newly reformed partnership to 14-1 as Cimatti won her third Sand Series title in the German market town in a row, whilst Gasparri claimed her first following runner-up finishes in the past two years.
The pair were on the ropes in the semi-finals against fellow Italians Flaminia Daina and Nicole Nobile, dropping the opening set in a tie break and failed to serve out the second at 5-4 on the Cimatti serve. However Daina and Nobile then missed the chance to take the set to another tie break with Gasparri and Nobile squeezing through 7-5 before taking the match tiebreak 10-6.
The final saw a clash between the top two seeds, with the Italians up against world champions Rafaella Miiller and Patricia Diaz for the third time in as many tournaments, having split the previous two encounters in Pärnu and BT400 St Georges de Didonne. Cimatti and Gasparri came through a tight opener in a tie-break before taking the title in straight setst.
“This is a very important victory and it was a difficult match today and the semi-final," said Cimatti. "We are very happy."
Meanwhile Nicolas Gianotti and Mattia Spoto won their third title in a row and extended their winning streak to fifteen matches.
The pair have notched up an impressive six titles this year, including two Sand Series and the World Championship.
Though the pair had a serene run to the final without dropping a set or even being taken to a tie break, they faced stiff competition once there - against new pairing André Baran and Michele Cappelletti.
The world No. 1 duo dropped their first set of the week but bounced back to take the second 6-2. A tense finale saw Cappelletti save a first championship point at 7-9 in the match tie-break, but they were unable to save a second when Gianotti delivered a powerful - and ultimately unreturnable - serve. The pair were on the wrong side of a match tie-break tussle in last year’s final, making this year’s result extra sweet.
The Sand Series has one final stop in October at the inaugural Sand Series Valinhos, forming part of a three-week swing along with the BT200 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto and the BT400 Copacabana.