Everybody’s gone serving
After 16 days of riveting beach tennis action, which saw more than 100 players from over 19 countries compete, the second edition of the KIA Summer Slam Beach Tennis Tour ended on a high note on Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday 21 December.
Seventh seeds Theo Irigaray of France and Mattia Spoto of Italy earned their fourth KIA Summer Slam Beach Tennis Tour crown in a gripping three-set final against third seeds Nikita Burmakin of Russia and Tommaso Giovannini of Italy, making the French-Italian pair the first team to bag more than two titles.
Irigaray and Spoto overcame their Russia-Italian rivals 7-5 2-6 6-3 in a gruelling hour and a half match to clinch the coveted title. “It was an amazing final,” the 26-year-old Irigaray said as he received the trophy. “This is our biggest victory so far in our careers.”
“This victory is so important to us, especially as the match became more and more difficult. We had the best experience in South Africa and hope to come back in 2020,” he added.
In the women’s competition, Italian top seeds Flaminia Daina and Giulia Gasparri won their second women’s doubles title on their first visit to South Africa. The 2015 World Beach Tennis champions are leaving South Africa with their second doubles title in the bag after winning the two back-to-back tournaments in Plettenberg Bay.
The Italians needed more than an hour, to beat the third seeds, fellow Italians Nicole Nobile and Ninny Valentini, 6-4, 6-3.
“Year two of the KIA Summer Slam Beach Tennis Tour proved to be a huge success once again. The tour attracted a lot more of the world’s best players this year and showcased world-class beach tennis here in South Africa,” said elated KIA Summer Slam Beach Tennis Tour director, Iain Smith. “The tour is not only about taking the sport to the people, but also to teach youngsters how to play, so locals were treated to some clinics by some of the best in the world, with the intention that this will serve as a catalyst for growth in South Africa.
“A big thank you to event sponsor KIA Motors South Africa for their generous sponsorship, players, officials and volunteers for making the event possible,” added Smith.
Theo Irigaray serves in the semifinal.
Tommaso Giovannini lines up a backhand shot in the semifinal.
Seventh seeds overall winners Mattia Spoto of Italy and Theo Irigaray of France. Photos: Blake Linder
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News