Gasparri hails ‘most special victory of her life’ alongside Valentini
It has been quite the week for Italy’s Giulia Gasparri and Ninny Valentini, who entered the 2021 ITF Beach Tennis World Championships off the back of becoming European Champions, and just six days later they have been crowned World Champions.
The pair have swept past all before them in Terracina and just when it looked like they were on track to complete a routine victory in the final, Valentini leapt for a ball and, on landing, heard a worrying sound in her left knee.
Both players looked distraught at the thought of throwing in the towel – especially given they were already a set up and had control of the second – and after receiving treatment from the physio, Valentini battled on. Even with her limited mobility, she and world No. 1 Gasparri put the match to bed 6-2 6-3.
“It was an incredible match,” said Valentini, who wins her first world title. “I was jumping and I heard a crack in my knee and I had a lot of pain. I was very worried about it because I thought the match was finished.”
Gasparri added: “I was very worried because she is a very strong girl and she never told me ‘I can’t play’, so in my heart I can’t describe the emotion.”
For Gasparri the win – her fourth world title – is the most important of all because Valentini is not just her partner on the court.
“This victory is special for me because Ninny is my girlfriend,” explained Gasparri. “So, for me, is absolutely the most special victory in my life. I’m very, very happy.”
The men’s semi-finals were decided earlier in the day in Terracina, with No. 2 seeds Nikita Burmakin and Tommaso Giovannini showing their ability to switch between defence and offence in a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 victory against third seeds Andre Baran and Vini Font.
Giovannini, in particular, was playing up to his native crowd after some scintillating play on Centre Court.
The local crowd will have plenty to cheer about in the final as Doriano Beccaccioli and Mattia Spoto caused another upset, taking out French fourth seeds Nicolas Gianotti and Theo Irigaray 6-2 7-6(8) to book their place in Sunday’s final.