by Elaine Genovese secured victory in the first round of qualifiers in the W25 tournament in Perigueux, beating Brazil’s Rebeca Pereira after forcing a decider, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7. However, she fell in the second round of qualifications, to Spaniard Claudia Hoste Ferrer who secured victory in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). Elaine Genovese will next team up with Francesca Curmi in doubles, before Curmi meets Hoste Ferrer in singles.
How Round 1 Unfolded
The match featured the first encounter between Brazil’s Rebeca Pereira against Malta’s Elaine Genovese. The two locked horns on a clay surface and it was the Brazilian who nudged into the lead first by taking the first set 6-2. However, Genovese raced back to win the second set by the same score, forcing a deciding tie-break. She used her momentum to complete the victory, by taking the decider 10 – 7.
The two were evenly matched, even in the number of breakpoints converted which saw both secure fifty percent (4/8). Genovese ultimately secured the win by upping her first serve points, edging out the Brazilian by 30 points to 25.
Round 2 Qualifying Match
The win saw Genovese progress into Round 2 of qualifications. She faced even tougher opposition in Spaniard Claudia Hoste Ferrer, who is ranked 593 in the WTA rankings. Hoste Ferrer had progressed from Round 1 by beating Ukranian Yelyzaveta Kotliar in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3.
The match was played later, on Monday afternoon. Genovese opened the match on serve, and though the two players held serve in their opening matches, Hoste Ferrer broke early to nudge ahead 2-1. The Spaniard kept up the momentum on serve, before securing a double break 4-1. Though Genovese eyed a breakpoint in the next match, Hosta Ferrer kept her head and cancelled it, before securing the hold to extend to a 5-1 lead. Although Genovese held to stay in the set, she could not break Hosta Ferrer who closed out the set in the next game, 6-2.
Once again it was Elaine Genovese who opened the second set, which mimicked the first in its storyline. At 1-1 and with Genovese back on serve, the Spaniard eyed two breakpoints. Though Genovese saved one, Hoste Ferrer converted the next to nudge into a 2-1 lead. The Maltese was unable to convert two break points of her own, allowing the Spaniard to extend to 3-1, before being broken 4-1. The Spaniard then held comfortably to love to get to 5-1. Genovese broke the Spaniard’s momentum by securing the hold to 5-2. However, as Hoste Ferrer served for the match, she opened up a three-match point margin. Although the Maltese saved one, Hoste Ferrer secured victory with the next, taking the match in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.
Genovese & Curmi to Team Up in France
The victory takes Claudia Hoste Ferrer into the first round of the main draw. Incidentally, that pits her against another Maltese in Francesca Curmi. The two will meet on Wednesday.
However, before then, Malta’s GSSE gold medallists Elaine Genovese and Francesca Curmi will team up in women’s doubles on Tuesday, where they will battle to get the better of French duo Astrid Lew Yan Foon and Jenny Lim in the Round of 16.
Photos: Mario Mifsud / Ralf Reinecke
