WTA Palermo Open Final: Fiona Ferro upsets Anett Kontaveit to win her second career WTA title

Fiona Ferro marked a very good week on Sunday, winning the tournament in Palermo (Italy), after defeating fourth seeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit in straight sets.

Ferro, ranked 53rd in the world, lost just one set on her way to the final. Ferro had been undefeated in two regional exhibition tournaments held while the WTA tour was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She rode that momentum through five more wins with the loss of just one set in Palermo, ousting Kontaveit in one hour and 43 minutes on Center Court.

Ferro sealed her second career WTA title, on her second championship point when Kontaveit hit a return long.

The result now ensures that Ferro will be making her world top-50 debut at number 44 when the latest WTA rankings are released on Monday.

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“Felt relaxed, wasn’t feeling any pressure”

“I think it was my best match of the week,” Ferro said after the match. “I was feeling relaxed; I don’t know why because it was a final! I wasn’t really feeling pressure. It was a tough match because she’s a really consistent player who doesn’t give you too many points.

I had a good intensity throughout the whole match, I didn’t miss a lot, made a lot of winners, so I’m really happy to have the trophy with me.”

“This title means a lot, especially after five tough months of practice. I was already feeling so happy just to be back on court and competing, so this is an even nicer way to finish the week with the win.”

Her toughest encounter had come in the semifinals against home hope Camila Giorgi, who pushed the 23-year-old to a 7-5 final set on Saturday.

“Giorgi’s game was very stressful and I didn’t know how to handle it in the first set. It was definitely when I felt the least calm, so I felt much better today!”

Kontaveit’s final woes continue

Kontaveit, who kicked off 2020 with a run to a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, was far more efficient in her semifinal win over top seed Petra Martic. But she had few answers for Ferro’s clean hitting in the opening set.

The Estonian has now lost five of the six finals she has contested.

“I don’t feel like I did too much wrong, she was just too good today,” Kontaveit said. “I’m just really happy we’re back playing tennis and able to compete.

“At the beginning it was terrifying but also really exciting at the same time.” Kontaveit added.

The Palermo Open was the first official tennis event — for men or women — since March when the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports across the globe.

Strict health protocols were implemented, including limited number of fans and no handshakes between players after the match.

Players and officials underwent COVID-19 tests every four days and one player who tested positive pulled out of the tournament last weekend.

Ferro will look to carry her positive momentum into the WTA Prague Open where she is likely to face off against the likes of World No 2 Simona Halep. The main-draw action of the WTA Prague Open begins on Monday. 

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