Curmi & Genovese Claim Women’s Doubles Title

Francesca Curmi and Elaine Genovese secured gold medals for Team Malta in the Women’s Doubles by beating Luxembourg’s Eleonora Molinaro and Maire Weckerle in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. There was great anticipation on the morning of Day 5, as on home soil, the duo attempted to improve on the Silver Medal won during the Mediterranean Games, which they did with aplomb.

Fired Up and Ready To Go

Francesca Curmi and Elaine Genovese took to the court to the sound of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ and a roaring ovation from the home crowd, as Luxembourg’s duo of Eleonora Molinaro and Marie Weckerle looked on.

Luxembourg elected to serve in the toss, with Molinaro taking charge. Malta’s duo had a determined look in their eyes as they forced a break early on. Curmi landed a forehand volley and a backhand down the line, before forcing Luxembourg into a mistake, affording Malta three break points. Though one was saved, Elaine Genovese made sure of the break with a winning forehand. Francesca Curmi served for Malta, and the duo sustained the momentum to extend to a 2-0 lead.

Luxembourg got on the board in the next service game on Weckerle’s serve and then eyed a breakpoint on Genovese’s serve. Despite faulting the first serve at 30-40, Genovese delivered a meaty second and Luxembourg overhit the return. At deuce, Elaine Genovese was calm and collected with the rally, ultimately forcing the mistake on Weckerle’s backhand to maintain the lead at 3-1. Though Molinaro served up an ace in the next game, Francesca Curmi converted a smash and a wicked return to earn two breakpoints. They only needed one as Luxembourg’s duo fired into the net, furthering Malta’s lead to 4-1.

Though the next game went to deuce, Malta got the decisive point to maintain the hold and extend to 5-1. The duo had two set points on Weckerle’s service game, but a shot fired into the net off Curmi’s racket, and then an overhit forehand from Genovese allowed Luxembourg another hold. Weckerle and Molinaro then channeled the momentum into getting a break of their own. In fact, as Malta’s Genovese served for the set, Team Luxembourg eyed three breakpoints. Though the Maltese duo canceled each to get themselves to a deuce, Molinaro made sure of the break with a precise backhand volley to reduce the scoreboard deficit to 5-3. However, a similar game followed on Molinaro’s serve, where the Maltese duo raced ahead, earning three break points at 0-40. The pressure got to the server who double-faulted, relinquishing the first set, 6-3.

Defiant Under Pressure

Francesca Curmi opened the second set and the Maltese duo were untroubled as they held the game to love. However, Luxembourg got themselves firing and Molinaro equaled the game-point tally finishing with an ace. The two sides maintained steady holds for the first five games of the set. However, trouble stirred on Molinaro’s serve again, and as the tension rose, the Maltese duo eyed a chance to break and forced a mistake off of Molinaro’s racket to secure the break to 4-2.

Elaine Genovese then took charge of the serve and the home favourites secured the hold comfortably enough to extend to 5-2. Once again Luxembourg faced the pressure of serving to stay in the set. They opened a 30-0 lead before Curmi attacked a weak lob with a smash and a loud ‘Come On’ to get Malta back in it with interest. However, Team Luxembourg were determined to make the Maltese duo work for their medal and Molinaro secured the hold with a mighty return.

At 5-3, Francesca Curmi took charge of serving for the title. Luxembourg’s duo fired a deep return before both closed the net and Molinaro caressed the strike to get the first point of the game. However, Curmi ramped up the pace of the first serve, which caused problems for the Luxembourgers, and enabled Malta’s duo to overturn the deficit into a lead of 30-15. A back-hand volley got Luxembourg level, but once again Curmi’s serve dealt more trouble earning Team Malta two championship points. They only needed one, as once again Luxembourg overhit the return on Curmi’s serve, prompting the Maltese duo to gather in celebration amid the elation from the packed stands.

It is a historic gold medal for the two and they both have an opportunity to add to their tally on Saturday. Curmi will open play at 10 am, facing Andorran Victoria Jimenez Katintseva for the chance of another gold. Later in the day, Genovese will team up with Matthew Asciak in Mixed Doubles’ against the same Jimenez Katintseva and partner Eric Cervos, as they eye bronze in the last tennis final of the Games for this edition. Schedules may be found here.

Photo: Deea Buzdugan