Errani Sweeps 1st Singles, Doubles Titles at WTA Palermo
Posted on July 14, 2008
PALERMO, Italy -- Everything was pointing to a final between Flavia Pennetta and Anabel Medina Garrigues. Pennetta was the No.1 seed and has had a strong showing on clay this year, winning two titles and beating Venus Williams at Roland Garros; Medina Garrigues was the No.2 seed, also won a clay court title earlier this year and had won this title four times in the past. But the dream final was cut short in the semifinals, and in the end it was Sara Errani who won the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo, beating Mariya Koryttseva in straight sets for the title on Sunday.
Errani, seeded No.5 at the $145,000, Tier IV event, pulled off the first upset in Saturday's semifinals, rallying back from a 1-5 start to take Pennetta out, 75 63. She was even down a set point in that game but mustered up all of her fight to avenge an easy loss in her only career meeting against her countrywoman.
"My semifinal match with Flavia was the best match of the tournament for me," said Errani, who fell to Pennetta in the semifinals of Acapulco last year, 62 64. "I went in with nothing to lose and she was playing very well, but when I got down 5-1 I just tried to hang in there. Soon it became 2-5, 3-5, 4-5... without really thinking I came back into the match and just played better and better."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, a No.7-seeded Koryttseva was making her own unheralded run through the draw. She went to three sets in her first two rounds and won a tight two-setter against phenom Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals, and going up against Medina Garrigues it looked as though the run would come to an end. But she surprised them all, overpowering the Spaniard, 62 62, to move into her second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles final.
"My semifinal was a very good match; I was using the right tactics and executed them well," said Koryttseva, whose first final came at Kolkata last year, where she was runner-up to Maria Kirilenko. "I had a tough first few matches but I was feeling really good when I played Anabel. She was a big favorite in that match."
Errani recovered better for the final. Although many of the games went to deuce it was always Errani pulling them out, much like their long, grueling rallies. In the end the No.5 seed topped the No.7 seed in an hour and 28 minutes, 62 63.
"It was a great match for me; maybe neither of us played our best but it was very important for me to win today," Errani said. "I think the difference between us was I was stronger in the long points. It was difficult to stay physically strong the whole week because it's very hot here, but I think I did better in the end."
"I didn't play that well in the final; I was trying my best but it just wasn't my day," Koryttseva said. "She was using smart tactics and I just wasn't able to play my game. It's especially disappointing because I played so well yesterday. I could have won my first title today but I can't think about that -- tomorrow is another day and another tournament. I just try to improve my game, day by day."
Errani didn't just walk away with the singles crown; on Saturday she won her first Tour title of any kind in the doubles, partnering Nuria Llagostera Vives to beat Alla Kudryavtseva and Pavlyuchenkova in a match tie-break, 26 76(1) 104.
"In the beginning I didn't think I'd be playing the doubles but then I decided to play with Nuria, and it turned out to be an incredible week for us," Errani added. "Next I'm going to Bad Gastein and then I'm not sure where else. But wherever I go I got a lot of confidence here. Winning your first title is very important!"
-- Courtesy Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
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