by Andorran Victoria Jimenez Katinsteva defeated Malta’s Francesca Curmi in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4 to take the Women’s Singles top prize. The stands were packed to the brim and spectators witnessed a tennis match of a high calibre, fitting the level of the players on the court.
Level Opening
The Andorran was first to walk on court and seemed itching to get the match started as she walked off from her chair towards the side of the court. Francesca Curmi stepped into the Centre Court shortly after and was treated to a huge ovation from the home crowd which prompted a big wave from the twenty-year-old.
Jimenez Katinsteva got the game going on serve, and though she faulted the first, she was precise with the second targeting Curmi’s backhand. Long rallies developed as the two kept up pace with each other, waiting for the first to flinch. However, at 40-30 the Andorran struck a forehand down the line to secure the hold. Curmi’s opening service game also followed in an even manner, but she too held serve to even the score at 1-1. Though Jimenez Kasintseva’s next service game went to deuce, two forehand errors allowed the Andorran the hold.
Four Breaks to End the Set
Pressure built into the match and the Andorran eyed her first break point at 30-40 but drove the return into the net. Despite this, at deuce she found the corner with her next shot to get the advantage and sealed the break by forcing a weak return off Curmi, before finishing off with a forehand cross into the corner. However, Curmi broke straight back in the next game. It was one that also went to deuce, where the Maltese nudged in front by forcing the mistakes off the Andorran’s backhand to get to 3-2.
A change of ends followed the two breaks which led to another battle between the opposing sides in the crowd who kept up the brilliant support for both players. It was then Curmi’s turn to serve. The Andorran nudged in front to 15-30, finding the line with a forehand cross. At this point the Maltese attempted a dropshot but was just slightly short, earning the Andorran two break points. Curmi erased one by pushing her opponent side to side and forcing the mistake off the Andorran’s backhand. However, Jimenez Katinsteva was handed the break in the next point as Curmi just missed the line.
Jimenez Katinsteva’s next service game went even longer but following two deuces, the Andorran made the advantage stick with an ace to get to 5-2. The onus then shifted on Curmi to stay in the set, but the Andorran powered through to force mistakes off Curmi’s racket, closing the set at 6-2.
Curmi’s Comeback
The Maltese took a quick break between sets and came out determined to force a decider in the second. She cut open a lead of 0-40 to earn three break points. Though the Andorran erased two, Curmi made it stick with the third, belting out a ‘come on’ as her the Team Malta corner pushed her on, along with huge cheers from the supporting crowd. The noise went to higher decibels as Curmi sustained the break with a hold, to open a 2-0 lead.
However, as all great competitors, the Andorran was also not ready to lie down and relinquish the set so easily. She got on the scoreboard in the next game, maintaining a difference of just one break. Pressure then shifted once again to Curmi to maintain her lead on serve. She opened shakily falling to 0-30, but levelled things with a long rally that saw her pound the Andorran’s backhand, before launching a crosscourt forehand earn the point. The Andorran went long with the next point, but then forced a weak return off Curmi’s backhand which she attacked with a smash at the net to earn a deuce. She kept up the pace and broke to level the score to 2-2.
At this point the Andorran looked the calmer of the two, as Curmi’s frustration built on court. However, the latter appeared to have successfully channeled that frustration positively into the game and broke straight back at the first chance to nudge herself into the lead once again 3-2.
A Change in the Tide
Following some medical treatment at the change of ends, Curmi walked onto the court to serve in a bid to sustain the break. Despite showing aggressive play, misfires compounded for the Maltese before a double fault set the Andorran on course to a break with three breakpoints. Another overhit shot from the Maltese yielded the break to love.
The Andorran got back on serve, and Curmi eyed another break point, but the Andorran ramped up the pace. She forced a weak return which she buried at the net to level the game, before an overhit forehand down the line completed the hold for the Andorran. This saw her nudge in front for the first time in the set. Curmi held her next service game, but a bid to break back on the Andorran’s serve faltered away. At 5-4, and serving to stay in the match, pressure got to the server who relinquished another break. Game, set, match and gold, Victoria Jimenez Katintseva.
In a game that was tightly contested throughout, the win landed at the feet of the one who controlled their errors best. At just seventeen years of age, the world number 185 and girls’ Australian Open winner dropped on the floor evidently elated with the win for Team Andorra. On the other hand, though having to settle for silver on the day, there is no doubt that Malta’s Francesca Curmi is destined for more as her game continues to develop.
