Sand Series event in Barcelona set for debut
The stage is set for the inaugural Sand Series Barcelona, with the draw throwing up plenty of intriguing ties for the beach tennis event at the CEM Vall d’Hebron on 26-28 May.
On the men’s side, Barcelona local and World Beach Games gold medalist Gerard Rodriguez Querol alongside Maksimilians Andersons drew Andre Baran and Theo Irigaray in the opening round.
Things will not get any easier on their side with the winner projected to play Alessandro Calbucci and Marco Garavini, both former world No.1s. Michele Cappelletti and Antomi Ramos could be waiting for them in the semi-finals and the duo keen to put last week’s loss in the final of the Sand Series Gran Canaria Classic behind them.
Meanwhile, top seeds Nicolas Gianotti and Mattia Spoto will be looking to keep their momentum going after notching a fifth title of the season as well as an eighteenth win as a pair last week in Gran Canaria. The will have to navigate a tricky quarter and get past Allan Oliveira and Thales Santos, recent winners at the BT200 Campinas.
Waiting for them in the semi-finals could be Doriano Beccaccioli and Diego Bollettinari. Beccaccioli enjoyed a sensational run to the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships final in his hometown and will be looking to run into that form again here on the Spanish sand.
On the women’s side, home favourite Eva Fernandez Palos and Maraike Biglmaier would have to get past their Reunion Classic conquerors Sofia Cimatti and Nicole Nobile in order to have the chance to face newly crowned co-world number ones Giulia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini.
On playing in her home club, Palos said: “We are excited to compete and give our all, and hopefully try to win."
Rafaella Miiller and Flaminia Daina will look to move on quickly from their loss in last week’s Gran Canaria Classic final but will have to navigate a tricky quarter that would see them up against Patricia Diaz and Sophia Chow, who lost against Valentini and Gasparri last week in a tight quarter-final.
Vitoria Marchezini and Marcela Vita could be waiting for them in the semi-finals. The Brazilian duo have played some epic semi-finals in the Sand Series so far, losing out in Gran Canaria last year to Miiller and Diaz before avenging that loss a month later against the pair en route to the title, before another titanic tussle against Valentini and Gasparri in Reunion in March.
“No match is ever easy, we are only thinking about the first match," Vita said of their draw. Having not played the tournament before, the key factor that helped the pair clinch the Sand Series Sand Series Brasilia Classic title was playing at home, according to Vita. "The support of our fans there was incredible," she added.
The Sand Series is a series of major beach tennis events launched in 2021, offering amongst the highest prize money and ranking points on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, with confirmed events in Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Brasilia, Saarlouis and Viareggio, with further hosts to be confirmed later in the year.
Sand Series 2022
25 – 27 March Réunion Classic
20 – 22 May Gran Canaria Classic
26 – 28 May Barcelona
16 – 18 June Brasília Classic
26 – 28 August Saarlouis Classic
09 – 11 September Viareggio