Champions crowned at first ITF Beach Tennis Sand Series Tour Finals
The ITF Beach Tennis Sand Series Tour Finals in Brasilia delivered an unforgettable weekend of action, culminating in historic victories and record-breaking prize money of $100,000 for the winners. Over Friday and Saturday, the world’s top beach tennis players battled fiercely in front of 3,000 spectators at the Nilson Nelson Stadium, creating unforgettable moments in the sports history.
The semi-finals kicked off with a thrilling upset in the men’s draw as Allan Oliveira and Leo Branco stunning Nikita Burmakin and Luca Andreolini. The Brazilian pair played the best match of their partnership, defeating their higher-ranked opponents 6-4, 6-2 to secure a spot in the final.
Following the semi-final match, Oliveira commented, “This final is a result of our hard work and progress … this match was unbelievable from our part.”
The second men’s semi-final featured a high-stakes clash between World Number 1’s Nicolas Gianotti and Mattia Spoto and World Numbers 2’s Michele Cappelletti and Marco Baran. Beyond a spot in the final, the match also determined the year-end rankings. Baran and Cappelletti dominated the opening set 6-0 and led in the second before Gianotti and Spoto mounted an extraordinary comeback, winning 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 to secure their place in the final and retain their status as the world’s top-ranked pair.
In the women’s semi-finals, top seeds Patricia Diaz and Rafaella Miiller advanced to the final with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Ariadna Costa Graell and Veronica Casadei. The World Number 1’s overcame a tough first set before finding their rhythm in the second. Joining them in the final were third-seeded Italians Guilia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini, who defeated the Brazilian duo Vitoria Chow and Marcela Marchezini 6-1, 6-3. With this victory, Gasparri and Valentini climbed to the Number 2 ranking heading into the final.
The finals on Saturday lived up to the anticipation. In the women’s final, Diaz and Miiller faced Gasparri and Valentini in a clash of power and resilience. The top seeds started strong, taking the first set 6-0, but Diaz’s back injury from the semi-finals began to affect her performance. The Italian pair seized the momentum, completing an astonishing comeback to win 0-6, 6-0, 6-0 and claim the inaugural title. For Valentini, the victory marked a triumphant return from a long injury battle, and Gasparri called the win “the perfect way to end the year.”
In the men’s final, Oliveira and Branco faced Gianotti and Spoto in front of a energetic home crowd. The Brazilians rode the wave of support to claim the first set in a thrilling tiebreak, 7-5. However, the World Number 1’s showcased their class, fighting back to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 and secure the title. Gianotti described the victory as “an honour and an ideal way to conclude the season.”
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With a record-breaking $100,000 prize pot for the champions, the ITF Beach Tennis Sand Series Tour Finals underscored the growth of beach tennis on the global stage.