Diaz-Miiller in comeback triumph; back-to-back for Cappelletti-Ramos

Victory has never felt so sweet as it did for Patricia Diaz and Rafaella Miiller on the Plage des Brisants this weekend. The pair battled through two epic encounters in front of packed crowds in their final two matches to secure theSand Series Réunion Classic title for the first time.

Having knocked out defending champions Sofia Cimatti and Nicole Nobile in the semi-final after saving multiple match points in a thrilling match tie-break that ended 17-15, they came back to snatch victory over World Champions Giulia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini in another epic, triumphing 6-7(4) 6-4 12-10.

The pair were able to exact revenge over the Italians, having lost to them in the World Championships Final last year. Diaz was emotional after both the final two rounds. The Venezuelan, who secured the title alongside her Brazilian partner in their first run to the Reunion final, said: "The best things take time. This is sport. We lose, we win, this is a tournament I was never able to win and this is my and my partner’s time."

The win is a second on the Sand Series for Diaz and Miiller, having taken the Sand Series Gran Canaria title last year. The match also saw a battle for the World No. 1 ranking between Gasparri and Miiller, with the latter returning to the top spot on 4 April.

Shortly after, Michele Cappelletti was in seventh heaven as he and Antomi Ramos defended their title against local favourite Nicolas Gianotti and Italy’s Mattia Spoto 6-3 6-4 in a run that saw them not drop a set all week.

Cappelletti’s seventh title here and second with Ramos, was his 66th ITF Beach Tennis World Tour Title and third Sand Series win. "The victory is one of the more difficult ones of my life. In the semi-final and final we played against top French players with great support from the crowd,’ said Cappelletti.

Ramos added: "I’m sorry for Theo and Nico, playing at home for them is incredible, they’ll be back next year." The duo’s next Sand Series will be another title defence in Gran Canaria in May, which is also Ramos’ home tournament.

Watch highlights of the men's final

For highlights from throughout the tournament, visit and subscribe to the Bourbon Brisants Beach Tennis YouTube channel.

The Sand Series is a series of major beach tennis events launched in 2021, offering amongst the highest prize money and ranking points on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, with confirmed events in Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Brasilia, Saarlouis and Viareggio, with further hosts to be confirmed later in the year.