by The Maltese international defeated Russian Ekaterina Reyngold in straight sets to progress to the round of sixteen in the W60 Barcelona tournament.
How it Unfolded
The two players started off with solid holds of serve, and there were no break point opportunities until the fourth match. At 2-1, it was Reyngold who eyed the first chance to break Curmi’s serve. However, the Maltese forced a deuce and held by taking the next two points.
Having come close to being broken seemed to send Curmi into another gear. The Maltese broke in the next game by converting the only available break point, nudging forward 3-2. Following a comfortable hold of serve, the Maltese eyed another breakpoint following a double fault by Reyngold, but the Russian recovered her mistake, maintaining just a difference of a single break.
Despite this, the Russian could not threaten Curmi’s serve in the next game. At 5-3 and serving to stay in the set, two double faults set the Russian in dangerous territory. Curmi pounced on the opportunity breaking to love and securing the set 6-3.
The Maltese opened the second set on serve, and it played out in a similar manner with both players holding without a facing a break point until the fourth match. At 2-1, Curmi tilted the balance in her favour breaking to love and sustained it with a hold of serve, extending her lead to 4-1.
Reyngold played herself into trouble with another double fault in the next game, but managed to save two breakpoints and hold. Despite this, with games running out, she could not challenge Curmi’s serve in the next game. At 5-2, the Russian faced the challenge of serving to stay in the match but the Maltese did not dawdle. Curmi broke to love to finish off the set 6-2, and the match in straight sets.
Next Match
The victory takes Curmi into the round of sixteen where she will face the British international Anna Brogan. The latter progressed after eliminating the number seven-seed and Belgian, Magali Kempen, in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.
It will be the first competitive encounter between Curmi and Brogan. The two are currently closely ranked, with the Briton ranked 330, while Curmi currently sits at 306. The match will be played on Thursday.
Photos: Ralf Reinecke / Portuguese Tennis Federation
