Genovese Falls to Rising Star Jimenez Katintseva

Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva emerged victorious against Malta’s Elaine Genovese in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. Having landed in Malta following an exit from the French Open qualifiers, the world number 185 looked dead set on securing a place in the final as she sprayed winners across the court.  

Opening Set

The first match of the day pitted Maltese veteran Elaine Genovese against top-seed Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva. It was the first of the Women’s Singles semi-finals of the day, which featured long high-quality rallies, as the two exchanged blows in search of a place in Saturday’s final.

Malta’s Elaine Genovese served first in a game that went to deuce, and though Jimenez Kasintseva eyed a break, Genovese stuck to the rallies and came away with the hold. The Andorran’s first service match also went to deuce. However, Genovese’s backhand return into the tramlines handed the advantage, before the Andorran’s fired her left-handed forehand across the court which painted the line to secure the hold.

A crucial game followed, which saw errors mount from Genovese who was broken to love. Jimenez sustained the break with venom, while Malta’s flag-bearer held her own in the next service game. Genovese attempted to shake things up as she eyed a break of her own, but attempted sliced forehand returns did not quite hit the mark, allowing Jimenez another comfortable hold. On her part, the Andorran looked to secure the double break as she started spraying balls in all corners of the court. Genovese erased two breakpoints to get to deuce. However, Genovese’s forehand down the line went out, handing an advantage, before the junior Australian Open winner returned a bullet of a forehand to complete the double-break (2-5). At this point, the Andorran needed only to hold serve to take the first set 2-6.

A Set of Breaks

Genovese opened the second set on serve and attempted to shake things up once again. A sliced forehand shot got the Andorran running towards the net, who missed her target, getting Genovese into the points in the game. However, Jimenez kept her general momentum to break Genovese’s serve immediately, before sustaining it with a hold. Genovese’s serve came under threat again in the next game, and though she canceled two break points, the Andorran rallied back with two winners to get the double break.

However, the Maltese veteran broke straight back to get to 1-3. Though Genovese then opened a 30-0 lead in her service game, the Andorran stuck in to get level before completing another break to 1-4. In the next game, Genovese started brightly by attacking the net on Jimenez’s first service point to open a 0-15 lead, which was aided by a rare double fault from the Andorran. However, the top seed cleaned up her act quickly and pounded crosscourt forehand winners to stick the hold and silence the crowd. At 1-5 and with the pressure on Genovese’s shoulder, the Andorran got herself two match points, but needed only one to bury the victory, 6-2, 6-1.

Victoria Jimenez Katintseva will meet second seed Francesca Curmi in Saturday’s final, in a match that is not to be missed.

Photo: Alan Turnbull / ITF