Gianotti and Spoto back on Top; Diaz and Miiller undefeated
Major upsets abound on the sand last week during the 2024 Sao Paulo Sand Series.
Michele Cappelletti and Andre Baran, who were just recently crowned World Number 1’s at the Beach Tennis World Championships that took place in September, lost in the First round of the Sand Series to the young, unseeded, Italian pair: Luca Andreolini and Niccolo Gasparri. Aged only 20 and 19 respectively, the dynamic duo had the match of their life, beating the Number 1 seeds in straight sets (6-4, 6-3).
With the Number 1 seeds out, it was all to play for in the Men’s draw. While Giannotti and Spoto stormed through their side of the draw without dropping a single set, the newly confirmed partnership of Felipe Cogo Loch and Antonio Miguel Ramos Viera, sent shock waves through tournament. Despite losing in the quarter finals of the BT400 Belo Horizonte against Leonardo Garrossino Branco, and Allan Oliveira, they had the chance of re-match against the Number 5 seeds in the Sand Series Semi-finals, winning 6-3, 7-6. With the Men’s Final set, all was to play for. However, Spoto and Gianotti did what they do best, drubbing Loch and Ramos in the first set 6-2. Things got trickier in the second set, but the ex-World Champions prevailed, this victory holding even greater significance as they reclaim the Number 1 spot at the top of the ranking table.
The Women’s draw saw The World Number 1’s Patricia Diaz and Rafaella Miiller return to the tour, after sitting out of the BT400 Belo Horizonte due to Miiller’s shoulder injury. However, the pair where on top form, and secured their spot in the final without dropping more than 5 games in a set. However, the fight for the second spot in the Final was more of a close call, with the Number 3 Seeds Gasparri and Valentini, and Number 2 seeds; Daina and Nobile, facing each other in an all-Italian Semi-Final. After a nail-biting tiebreak, Gasparri and Valentini advanced through to the final 6-4, 2-6, 10-4. However, Diaz and Miiller defeated the Italian pair, and claimed the Sao Paulo Sand Series Trophy with a 6-3, 6-3 victory consolidating their Number 1 title. With World Number 3 – Sophia Chow, out of the tour for the foreseeable future due to injury, their Number 1 spot is secured for the time-being.