Falkowska and Ambrosio to clash in Ortisei final

At the Raiffeisen ITF Women’s Val Gardena Südtirol ($25,000) tournament in Ortisei, Friday set the stage for the final: in the grand finale of the W35, scheduled for Saturday, Weronika Falkowska (WTA #535) from Poland and Silvia Ambrosio (WTA #460), a player for TC Rungg, will battle it out. Falkowska emerged victorious in a rollercoaster match against top seed Justina Mikulskyte, while Ambrosio, in another three-set encounter, overcame Australian Tina Nadine Smith. The doubles final, which closed the day, delivered another highlight for the audience. Here’s the round-up from Val Gardena.

FALKOWSKA KEEPS COOL AND DELIVERS AN UPSET

The first semifinal featured Weronika Falkowska against top-seeded Justina Mikulskyte. The Polish player started strong, quickly taking a set and a double break lead in just 45 minutes. It seemed like smooth sailing until the Lithuanian fought back with six consecutive games to level the match. In the deciding third set, Falkowska regained momentum, breaking for 2-0, only to see Mikulskyte equalize at 2-2 and even gain her first break point opportunity to take the lead. In a decisive twist, Falkowska held her nerve, winning the critical game, breaking again, and eventually sealing the match with a commanding 6:2, 3:6, 6:3 scoreline to secure her place in the final.

AMBROSIO HOLDS STEADY AND REACHES THE FINAL

In the second semifinal, Silvia Ambrosio faced Australian fourth seed Tina Nadine Smith. The TC Rungg representative got off to a flying start, racing to a 5-1 lead with two early breaks but needed seven set points to close the first set at 6:3. In the second set, Smith turned the tables, jumping to a commanding 5-0 lead. Like her opponent, she struggled to close, finally taking the set 6:4 to force a decider. The third set was evenly matched, with both players holding serve until Ambrosio capitalized on an opportunity in the tenth game to seal her victory at 6:3, 4:6, 6:4. For Ambrosio, who grew up in Germany, the win marks an important milestone after narrowly missing out on a Serie A1 final with TC Rungg.

DOUBLES FINAL DELIVERS DRAMA

The sixth day of the ITF W35 Ortisei concluded with a thrilling doubles final. The top-seeded pair of Lisa Zaar and Weronika Falkowska emerged victorious in a nail-biting match. After saving two championship points, they defeated the second-seeded team of Ekaterina Ovcharenko and Emily Webley-Smith with a scoreline of 6:4, 1:6, 12-10. For Zaar, this marked a second consecutive Val Gardena title, following her triumph last week in Selva alongside Poland’s Martyna Kubka. Meanwhile, Falkowska has the chance to complete a perfect week by aiming for the singles title in Saturday’s final at 10:00 a.m., potentially achieving a prestigious double victory.

RESULTS FROM DAY 6:

Main Draw Singles | Semifinals:

• [1] Justina Mikulskyte vs. Weronika Falkowska 2:6, 6:3, 3:6
• [4] Tina Nadine Smith vs. Silvia Ambrosio 3:6, 6:4, 4:6

Main Draw Doubles | Final:

• [1] Weronika Falkowska/Lisa Zaar vs. [2] Ekaterina Ovcharenko/Emily Webley-Smith
  6:4, 1:6, 12-10

PREVIEW: SATURDAY, 07/12/2024 (10:00 a.m.)

Main Draw Singles – Final:
Weronika Falkowska vs. Silvia Ambrosio

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