Tennis: almost perfect week for Fiona Ferro at the WTA 125 in Palermo

Valbon native Fiona Ferro is experiencing a complicated year on the major WTA events, with notably only one small match in the main draw of a Grand Slam, a quick first round at Roland Garros against future champion Mirra Andreeva. Much more comfortable on the “secondary” circuit, after her title in Oeiras last April, the French player reached this week the final of the WTA 125 in Palermo.

Fiona Ferro gaining momentum and cruising to the final

Seeded number 7, Fiona Ferro got off to a good start in her week by dominating her first round against Yufei Ren (323rd). More dominant on serve and in play, and with more experience on this type of event, the Valbon native won her match in two sets 6/2-6/3.

In the second round, the French player wins without hesitation against Erika Andreeva (215th). Always superior in ranking as well as on court, she wins easily 6/4-6/3 to qualify for the quarterfinals.

This Friday, Fiona Ferro faced once again a player ranked higher in the WTA rankings, German Mina Hodzic (320th). Confident, the French player gave her opponent no chance. In just over an hour, she crushes the German 6/2-6/0.

For the first time of the week, Fiona Ferro faced this Saturday – in the semifinals – a player ranked higher than her. Against Italian Lucia Bronzetti (120th), the task promised to be more complicated than her previous matches. In the end, continuing her week’s form, the French player once again dominated her opponent in two sets, 6/2-6/3. A match perfectly controlled by the Valbon native, who notably had 11 break points with four converted (only one for Bronzetti).

In a final with a crazy scenario, Fiona Ferro comes close to the title

The level rises another notch in the final for Fiona Ferro. Against the number 1 seed of the tournament, British Francesca Jones (113th), the French player went through all the emotions. She unfortunately falls in three sets after a thrilling match.

Yet, starting very badly, the Valbon native was non-existent in the first set. With only six points won in total (two on her serve), she loses heavily 6 games to 0 in 21 minutes. A one-sided final seemed to be taking shape.

But from the start of the second set, Fiona Ferro signs the beginning of the rebellion. More offensive, she finally got into her match and quickly led 3/0. After numerous breaks on both sides, the French player wins the second set 6/4, a situation completely unexpected an hour earlier.

In the decisive set, the two players fight hard. Francesca Jones is the first to take the lead, but will lose her serve at 4 games to 3. The title of the WTA 125 in Palermo will be decided in the tiebreak of the third set. Ultimately, the British player wins 8 points to 6, after saving a match point at 5-6. Final score, 6/0-4/6-7/6 in 2h43.

Thanks to this nearly perfect run, Fiona Ferro climbs more than 30 places and is ranked, this Monday, 159th in the world.