Semi-Final Day at the 2024 ITF Beach Tennis World Cup
The Arena Eztec in Sao Paulo filled with beach tennis fanatics on Saturday 14th December to watch the incredible line up of semi-finals at the 2024 ITF Beach Tennis World Cup.
Up first on centre court was Venezuela Versus Seed Number 1’s – the all-powerful Italy. Venezuela have had an incredible tournament having achieved first place in their group during the group stages of the competition. After a fantastic quarter final against Puerto Rico, Venezuela made it clear that this year they meant business. Their success definitely in part due to their all-star mixed doubles team made up of World Number 8 Carlos Vigon, and World Number 1 Patty Diaz. Despite this tournament being the first time the pair have played mixed doubles together, they have shocked the crowd and their opponents with their chemistry and incredible level of play, winning crucial decisive mixed doubles against both Puerto Rico in the Quarter Final and France in the group stages.
However, Italy has a stellar team this year, including the Men’s World Number 1 and 2, Mattia Spoto and Michele Cappelletti, and the Women’s World Number 1’s and this year’s Tour Finas Champions; Ninny Valentini and Guila Gasparri. The Italian’s ran away with the Women’s match beating Venezuela 6 – 0, 6 – 2. The Men’s match was slightly tighter, but Italy held firm and defeated Venezuela 6 – 0, 7 – 6, securing their spot in the World Cup Final.
The last semi-final of the day saw Brazil enter centre court facing up against Spain. Brazil, the home favourites to win this year after splitting the Trophy last year with Italy. However, the Spanish team have had an incredible tournament so far, and Arianda Costa Graell and Eva Fernandez Palos, Number 8 and Number 13 in the World respectively, defeated World Number 1, Miiller, and World Number 2 5-7, 6-2, 10-5. However, the Brazil Men’s Team; Baran and Mola, managed to defeated Spain’s Antomi Ramos and Gerard Rodrgiuez, evening the tie to one all and taking the final semi-finals of the tournament to a decisive mixed doubles match.
After a tight first set, Spain Costa Graell and Ramos managed to produce magic on the court and defeated Baran and Marchezini 6-4, 6-1, securing Spain a spot in the World Cup Final for the first time in history. After the match Ramos said that from the first day the Spanish team was here ‘to make history’. Ariadna Costa Graell said after the match that it was the biggest win of her life - ‘securing our spot in the final and winning against Brazil here is unbelievable’.