Gasparri and Valentini secure fourth Sand Series crown as a pair
Giulia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini wasted no time putting their sole loss of 2023 behind them in an otherwise flawless start to the season as the pair romped to victory at the Sand Series Ribeirão Preto over the weekend.
The world No. 1 pairing were in formidable form and took their fourth title of the season and fourth Sand Series title as a pair without the loss of a set in their most impressive title run of the year.
In the final they faced fellow Italians across the net, first-time Sand Series finalists Veronica Casadei and Greta Giusti.
Casadei and Giusti had put together a phenomenal run, squeezing past second seeds Sofia Cimatti and Nicole Nobile followed by Eva Fernandez Palos and local favourite Vitoria Marchezini, both in match tie breaks.
However the final proved a step too far, as they fell to Gasparri and Valentini in straight sets.
“I want to congratulate our opponents today who ran an incredible campaign," said Gasparri after the final. “I want to congratulate Ninny…she is a warrior. Incredible.”
In similar fashion, Nikita Burmakin and Andre Baran also bounced back from their BT400 Pure Beach loss and claimed their second title of the season after victory at the BT400 Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
The pair were almost undone in their second round match against the young pairing of Mateus Busnardo Buemo and Augusto Russo, the former of which featured in the Junior lineup for Brazil in last year’s ITF Beach Tennis World Cup.
It was an easier affair after navigating that tricky encounter, taking the title for a loss of just 11 games in their final three matches, including a semi-final victory against Daniel Mola and Airton Rodrigues Macedo who had taken out recent BT400 Pure Beach winners Nicolas Gianotti and Mattia Spoto in the previous round.
The final saw them face off against first-time Sand Series finalists Maks Andersons and Mathieu Guegano, who stunned top seeds Antomi Ramos and Michele Cappelletti in the quarter-finals.
After the final, Baran said: “I am really happy. Speechless. I am very happy with the crowd in this area. It boosts us!"
I also congratulate Guegano and Maks who are two incredible players," he added. "They were playing very well and deserve to be here."
The final stop in this Brasilian swing takes place this week at the BT400 Balneario Camboriú, before the next stop on the Sand Series in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where players will look to hit peak form in time for the World Championships the following week in Cesenatico, Italy.