A win streak and a comeback: Fiona Ferro wins Palermo Ladies Open

The Palermo Ladies Open wrapped up today and saw Fiona Ferro take down 4th-seeded Anett Kontaveit for the title (Ferro’s 16th match win in a row).

Fiona Ferro def. (4) Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 7-5

Fiona Ferro got off to a solid start, utilizing her powerful groundstrokes and effective serves to run Kontaveit from sideline to sideline. After a break to open the match, Ferro saved two break points to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Those two points would be the only break opportunities that Kontaveit would have for the entire first set.

The pair held four straight times to bring the score to 4-2 before Ferro broke for the second time in the match to extend her lead. Serving out the set, however, was no easy task. She was extremely effective with her first serve on the deuce side, taking 3 points in the game from it.

She couldn’t figure out her second serve and Kontaveit jumped on it, saving two matches points with a down-the-line backhand. Kontaveit moved inside the baseline during this final game on Ferro’s second serve and was able to pounce as the ball was on the rise. Finally, on the 6th set point, Ferro capitalized with a first serve and Kontveit pushed a groundstroke long to lose the set.

Kontaveit wasn’t down and out of the fight. After a hold to begin the second set, she broke Ferro after racing to three break points. She needed two to get the job down but unleashed a killer forehand winner to go up 2-love.

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Ferro needed a strong break of serve and she did just that with a break at love. She won another four points in a row, this time on her serve, to tie up the match. At 3-all, Ferro had the opportunity to break; that was quickly tarnished by a great save from Kontaveit. A three-deuce game on Ferro’s serve ended in another break from Kontaveit, pushing her lead to 5-3. The match looked to be heading to a decisive final set as longas Kontaveit continued her strong serving performance for one more game.

That would be the last game Kontaveit would win for the entire match. A successive break and hold tied the match at 5-all, and yet another Ferro power forehand gave her the 6-5 advantage with a chance to serve for the championship. It took two chances, but a Kontaveit backhand return sailed long and gave Ferro her 2nd career WTA title.

Both players gave it everything this past week. Fiona Ferro quickly established herself as one of the event’s best. She came into the tournament on a massive win streak (11 matches won in a row). Her win streak now extends to 15 with her title here in Palermo. If she could choose to play Roland Garros tomorrow, she would. She’d be the favorite and will likely still be one of them by the September start date.

Kontaveit’s loss today put her WTA finals record at 1-5 (0-3 on clay). She had trouble getting through some of her earlier matches, and despite a solid performance down the stretch today, she couldn’t match up with Ferro.

The Palermo Ladies Open marked the first tennis action since the shutdown and finished without a hitch. Many suspected the event wouldn’t last due to an unnamed player testing positive for COVID-19 prior to the beginning of the tournament, but no other positive cases arrived. It shines a bright light on the future of the tour in Europe.

Next. Serena Williams set for return at Top Seed Open. dark

Two WTA events are beginning tomorrow, one in the United States and one in Prague. Serena and Venus Williams, as well as teen sensation Coco Gauff, lead the way at the Top Seed Open, and Simona Halep is the headliner in Prague.

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