by Maltese tennis player Francesca Curmi has risen to a career-best of 311 in the world in the WTA rankings, following victory in the ITF W25 tournament in Tossa de Mar. Curmi is set to be part of the squad representing Malta in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE MALTA 2023) starting next Monday 29th May.
Victory in Tossa De Mar
Francesca Curmi beat Spaniard Georgina Garcia-Perez in straight sets (6-2, 7-6) in the final, to clinch her first-ever singles W25+H title in the beginning of May. Winning the title racks up 60 points in the world rankings and a handsome prize of $25,000, besides having hospitality provided. The competition, forming part of the ITF World Tennis Tour, was played on carpet (second fastest to grass) and saw Curmi glide through without dropping a set.
The W25 title is her maiden in this calibre of tournament in singles tennis, having won back-to-back W15 titles on hardcourt in Monastir in 2022. She also made headway last November, notably reaching the quarter-final of a W80 tournament, before losing out by 6-4, 6-4 sets to world number-87, Magdalena Frech.
Since victory in Tossa de Mar, Curmi has also competed in a W100 tournament in Madrid, which sets the highest possible stakes on the ITF World Tennis Tour. She made it to the second qualifying stage, falling to similarly ranked Conny Perrin of Switzerland. However, having recently shared the court with the world number 9 Daria Kasatkina, for a practice session, makes no doubt of Curmi’s ambition to keep improving and rising in the rankings.
Partnership with Elaine Genovese
Tossa de Mar also played host to the doubles tournament which saw Curmi team-up with fellow Maltese national Elaine Genovese. The two came to a head against the same Conny Perrin and Georgina Garcia-Perez in the quarter-final, in a tight encounter that saw the Maltese duo narrowly yield in straight sets, 5-7 and 7-6 following a tie-break.
Curmi and Genovese have formed a formidable partnership. They secured a W25 tournament in Vigo last summer, beating Olga Helmi and Kathleen Kanev in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. Additionally, they also claimed silver medals in the 2022 Mediterranean Games, by beating Italians Nuria Brancacio and Aurora Zantetedeschi. In 2023, the two formed part of the debut team for the Maltese delegation in the Billie Jean King Cup during which they beat South Africa in a playoff to retain a place in group two for next year.
GSSE MALTA 2023
Francesca Curmi and Elaine Genovese may be seen in action in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) to be held in Malta between the 29th May and 2nd June as part of the Maltese tennis squad. They will be joined by fellow Maltese nationals Matthew Asciak, Alex DeGabriele, Liam Delicata, Emma Montebello, Matija Pecotic and Helen Pellicano.
The public can attend all matches of the GSSE MALTA 2023 free of charge. Tennis matches will comprise of men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and also mixed doubles. The matches will be held at the Marsa Sports Club and proceedings kick-off at 10 am with matches being played on a ‘to follow’ basis.
