Next Gen conquer the Dolomites
27.11.25
Ortisei is on fire. The Sparkasse ITF W50 Val Gardena Südtirol has entered its decisive phase, and two rising talents are rewriting the tournament’s hierarchy. The semi-finals will feature an all “next-gen” showdown: Mimi Xu versus Kayla Cross, two faces of a fast-moving future in tennis.
Xu hit top gear in the quarter-finals: a blistering start and a ticket to the semis after the retirement of Susan Bandecchi, the former TC Rungg player who took to the court with a heavy bandage and was forced to stop due to injury. At 18, the Brit continues her golden spell: at the end of October she won the WTA 100 in Wrexham and her level has visibly risen since. The path is set, but her next challenge is already around the corner.
On the opposite side of the draw, Kayla Cross keeps impressing. First a solid display against Laura Mair, then a ferocious fightback in the quarters: trailing 3–6 against the experienced Urszula Radwańska (former world No. 29), the Canadian shifted gears and earned both the semi-final and the applause with a 6–2 6–3 performance worthy of a seasoned pro. Her recent weeks speak for themselves: a final and a semi-final in two 40k tournaments in Chihuahua, a WTA 125 doubles title in Tampico, a wild card for Montreal, Slam qualifying… Cross is dreaming big, and she’s brought that hunger with her to the mountains of Val Gardena.
Guerrero Álvarez in competitive trance, and Jorge holds her nerve
In the lower half of the draw shines a player full of confidence: Eva Guerrero Álvarez. The 26-year-old is enjoying a brilliant spell and confirmed it in the quarters by beating her friend Maria Martínez Vaquero with stretches of impeccable tennis. In the second set she handled every delicate moment with remarkable clarity, giving continuity to the authoritative version she showed on Sunday in the Serie A1 semi-final with AT Verona, when she edged Camilla Zanolini in a third-set tie-break (7–6). The Spaniard arrives from strong runs in Funchal and Rovereto and is now sending clear signals in view of the Slams. In the semi-finals she will face Francisca Jorge, who did well to tame Sweden’s Lisa Zaar 6–4 6–3, keeping control whenever it mattered.
Doubles, what a story: Maduzzi–De Stefano fly into the final, and Cross dreams of the double
In the doubles draw, Italian magic strikes. Nineteen-year-old Gaia Maduzzi and 21-year-old Samira De Stefano unexpectedly reach the final after a stunning 7–6(4) 6–2 win against Sofia Costoulas (world No. 150 in singles) and defending champion Weronika Falkowska. A victory forged through fearless play and fuelled by a crowd that roared at every point.
In the other semi-final, Cross and Ana Rogers kept their cool in the match tie-break, winning 10–4 over Martyna Kubka and Lisa Zaar and giving Cross the chance of a rare double triumph in the same week.
The doubles final is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, at 14:30. The singles semi-finals will begin at 11:00, while Saturday will host the big final.
On Sunday the tennis caravan moves to Selva di Val Gardena, where a new 40k tournament gets underway and where many players will aim to spring further up-altitude surprises. Representing TC Gherdëina will be Lisa Peer and Laura Mair, ready to bring a local touch to yet another high-level draw.
