Paris (AFP)
The French Fiona Ferro and the Estonian Anett Kontaveit will face each other in the final of the Palermo tournament on Sunday, the first meeting of the women's circuit after the five months of interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ferro beat Italy's Camila Giorgi 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 on Saturday, while Kontaveit defeated the tournament's number one seed, Croatia's Petra Martic, 6-2, 6-4 .
Completely overwhelmed at the start of the game, Ferro, who had not conceded any set in the Sicilian tournament so far, dropped the first set in just 33 minutes after being down 5-0 under the powerful blows of the Italian.
But the French, 53rd in the world, hung on, clinching a double break twice in the second set thanks to some weaknesses in the service of Giorgi, to finally return to a set everywhere.
The third set was the most hooked. But, when the two players were tied 5-5, Ferro broke his opponent and then won his service game to close the match.
Ferro, 53rd in the world, will try to win his second title on Sunday. For the moment, it has a title in Lausanne (2019) on its list.
For that, she will have to beat a conquering Anett Kontaveit, who made short work on Saturday of Petra Martic, 15th in the world, visibly diminished and eliminated in 1:19.
The 24-year-old Estonian, world No.22, is also hoping to win her second WTA title, after 's-Hertogenbosch in 2017.
© 2020 AFP