France’s Fiona Ferro shocked fourth-seed Estonian Anett Kontaveit to win the Palermo Ladies Open, the primary post-coronavirus tennis event on Sunday. The 53rd-ranked Ferro got here by way of 6-2, 7-5 in a single hour 43 minutes on her second match level towards Kontaveit, ranked 22nd, and an Australian Open quarter-finalist this yr. The 23-year-old Ferro claimed her second WTA after Lausanne final yr, which is able to see her break into the highest 50 subsequent week. Kontaveit had ousted Croatian high seed Petra Martic, ranked 15th, within the semi-final of the $222,500 event on Saturday.
“I believe it was my greatest match of the week,” Ferro mentioned.
“I wasn’t actually feeling strain. It was a troublesome match as a result of she’s a very constant participant who would not provide you with too many factors.
“However I had a superb depth all through the entire match.”
Regardless of the absence of the large names, all eyes had been on Palermo to see if the well being measures had been ample for a secure return to competitors which had been suspended for 5 months.
A participant examined optimistic for COVID-19 on arrival in Sicily and withdrew from the event, having stayed in her lodge whereas awaiting the outcomes.
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Controls had been strict with solely 300 spectators allowed at a clay-court venue which has a each day capability of 1,500.
The season will proceed subsequent week with WTA occasions in Prague and Lexington, with the US Open beginning on August 31.
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