The level rises but the performance of the scholars of the Intesa Sampaolo Assicura Little Tennis Champions charity program stays very high. At the J60 in Domzale (Slovenia), the team of I Tennis Foundation confirmed the excellent summer preparation carried out with Emilio Sanchez and Gipo Arbino and churned out great performances in both the girls’ and boys’ draw.
Starting with another picture-perfect week by Francesca Galli who, after two consecutive ITF titles lifted in Cuneo and Livorno, reached the final in Slovenia as well but was defeated in the third set by the Hungarian Kalman.Before that, however, Francesca had taken the satisfaction of defeating in the semifinals the No. 1 of the draw Croatian Ana Petkovic, whom she has met several times in these years of scholarships with I Tennis Foundation, and of bringing to 15 the fantastic streak of consecutive matches won.
Alessandra Fiorillo (round of 16, defeated by Petkovic) and Giorgia Buccinotti, who signed in Domzale her first victory at the ITF level, also performed very well. Semifinals, on the other hand, in doubles for 2023 Italian champions Fiorillo-Galli.
In the boys’ event, instead, Matteo Gribaldo and Mattia Cappellari both reached the semifinals. Matteo succumbed to No. 1 seeded Emanuel Ivanisevic (yes, the son of the great Goran!), while Mattia was eliminated by the 4th seeded favorite in the main draw after a three-set battle.
In the boys’ doubles, the duo composed of Mattia Bille and Matteo Gribaldo shone, doing a great job all the way to the semifinals only to surrender 10-7 in the third-set tie-break.
After this summer’s ITF appointments (between San Marino, Cuneo, Livorno, and Domzale), the 2009 Intesa Sanpaolo Assicura Little Tennis Champions class scholars will be busy this week in the Italian Category Championships.