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Return of WTA tennis: Italian talent ousts top seed in Palermo Open
Return of WTA tennis: Italian talent ousts top seed in Palermo Open
The quarterfinals of the Palermo Open, the first WTA tournament after lockdown, started today, with Petra Martic from Croatia and Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, currently ranked as no. 15 and no. 115 in the world, facing each other on the red clay outside Palermo.
Both Martic and the only other top seed to remain in the tournament, Estonian Anett Kontaveit, struggled to get through to the quarter finals; Kontaveit needed three sets to beat German Laura Siegemund, as did Martic to get a grip on Russian Ludmilla Samsonova’s devastating forehands.
An ace and a smile ?
Petra Martic defeats Samsonova, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.#PLO20 pic.twitter.com/6nAreO0ybU
— wta (@WTA) August 6, 2020
The other three quarter finals all feature Italian players; Camila Giorgi, Sara Errani and Elisabetta Cocciaretto. 19-year old Cocciaretto is the youngest Italian tennis player to reach a quarter final in a WTA tournament since 2006. She beat the Croatian Donna Vekic in two sets, 6-2, 6-4, in the round of 16 and will play Anett Kontaveit from Estonia in the quarterfinal.
Donna Vekic caused a stir earlier in the week, as she posted pictures of herself sightseeing in Palermo between matches. Players are expected to keep a low profile and stay at their hotel between matches to minimise the danger of COVID-19 contagion.
A very limited number of spectators are allowed in Palermo, and all are required to wear face masks at all times during the matches.
Order of play – Friday, 7 August 2020#PLO20@WTA pic.twitter.com/p9DqRuhaHs
— Palermo Ladies Open (@LadiesOpenPA) August 6, 2020
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