TAN Wenling (CIATT Prato) and Leonardo MUTTI (Aeronautica Militare) are the winners of the singles titles of the Italian Championships which took place for the first time in Sardegna.
At PalaPirastu in Cagliari TAN won the second gold medal 15 year after the first one. In the finals she beat 4-3 her clubmate Chiara COLANTONI. Bronze medalists were Nikoleta STEFANOVA (CIATT Prato) and Debora VIVARELLI (Centro Sportivo Esercito). Giorgia PICCOLIN (Centro Sportivo Esercito) was eliminated in the quarter-finals by VIVARELLI and ended the streak of four consecutive titles.
“I am happy with this title ” said TAN “after the one in 2008. At that time my daughter Gaia was seven years old and was on my bench. After 15 years she’s still on the bench and she helped me to get this win. When I was very tired and I couldn’t take it anymore she told me to give her a good example. I wanted to be an example for her and for the other young players and I did it. I don’t train much but my husband encourages me to go to the gym to keep fit. When I’m in the field I absolutely want to win. When I arrived in Cagliari I didn’t really think to win but to do what I could. Above all I wanted to stay with Gaia. I hope next year in it’s her turn to clinch the title.”
In the Men’s singles MUTTI become champion for the third time after 2015 and 2019. In the final match he overcame 4-1 his mate in Aeronautica Militare Mihai BOBOCICA. John OYEBODE (Tennistavolo Sassari) and Jordy PICCOLIN (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) were placed third. The defending champion Niagol STOYANOV (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) lost to BOBOCICA in the last16.
“This title is special” – explains MUTTI – “because these days the centenary of Aeronautica Militare is celebrated and this is my gift. It’s a great satisfaction at the beginning of the season I didn’t think I’d be able to win and this result gives me the energy to keep on doing my best and to be more and more competitive in the international field as well. The semifinal against OYEBODE was very tough and we battled till the last point with various match-points in the sixth set in favor of Johnny who in the seven and decisive set was leading 9-4. He put in an excellent performance and I want to congratulate him. I had the strength to win a match that seemed an impossible challenge for me. I really wanted to play in the same way in the finals too. I know BOBOCICA very well we’ve met many times and from a technical-tactical and above all mental point of view I did my job very well. Mihai was good too I showed character and courage and I was rewarded”.
Men’s singles:
Quarters finals:
Leonardo MUTTI – Tommaso GIOVANNETTI 3-0 (12-10 11-8 11-5)
John OYEBODE – Matteo MUTTI 3-0 (11-8 11-8 11-3)
Jordy PICCOLIN – Daniele PINTO 3-2 (11-5 11-9 5-11 7-11 11-8)
Mihai BOBOCICA – Marco RECH DALDOSSO 3-1 (11-8 9-11 11-8 11-8)
Semifinals:
Leonardo MUTTI – John OYEBODE 4-3 (8-11 9-11 12-10 11-9 7-11 13-11 11-9)
Mihai BOBOCICA – Jordy PICCOLIN 4-1 (11-7 5-11 13-11 11-8 13-11)
Finals:
Leonardo MUTTI – Mihai BOBOCICA 4-1 (11-9 7-11 11-6 12-10 11-9)
Women’s singles:
Quarters finals:
Debora VIVARELLI – Giorgia PICCOLIN 4-1 (9-11 11-8 11-9 11-4)
Chiara COLANTONI – Veronica MOSCONI 3-0 (11-8 11-7 18-16)
TAN Wenling – Nicole ARLIA 3-2 (7-11 15-13 9-11 11-8 11-8)
Nikoleta STEFANOVA – Gaia MONFARDINI 3-2 (10-12 12-10 11-8 11-13 14-12)
Semifinals:
Chiara COLANTONI – Debora VIVARELLI 4-0 (12-10 11-9 11-5 11-0 Retired)
TAN Wenling – Nikoleta STEFANOVA 4-1 (11-9 11-5 10-12 11-5 11-1)
Finals:
TAN Wenling – Chiara COLANTONI 4-3 (11-6 11-13 11-9 7-11 11-5 4-11 11-5)
Men’s doubles:
Semifinals:
Marco RECH DALDOSSO/Alessandro BACIOCCHI – Antonino AMATO/Daniele PINTO 3-0 (13-11 11-8 11-7)
Matteo MUTTI/Leonardo MUTTI – John OYEBODE/Jordy PICCOLIN 3-2 (10-12 11-9 11-9 11-13 11-7)
Finals:
Marco RECH DALDOSSO/Alessandro BACIOCCHI – Matteo MUTTI/Leonardo MUTTI 3-2 (11-6 7-11 8-11 11-8 11-9)
Women’s doubles:
Semifinals:
Debora VIVARELLI/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Giulia CAVALLI/Veronica MOSCONI 3-2 (11-8 9-11 11-4 9-11 11-7)
Nicole ARLIA/Nikoleta STEFANOVA – Gaia MONFARDINI/TAN Wenling 3-2 (7-11 12-10 9-11 11-3 11-4)
Finals:
Debora VIVARELLI/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Nicole ARLIA/Nikoleta STEFANOVA 3-1 (8-11 11-5 11-8 11-9)
Mixed doubles:
Semifinals:
Antonino AMATO/Nikoleta STEFANOVA – Alessandro BACIOCCHI/Arianna BARANI 3-1 (11-9 10-12 11-9 11-9)
John OYEBODE/Gaia MONFARDINI – Jordy PICCOLIN/Debora VIVARELLI 3-0 (12-10 11-8 11-3)
Finals:
John OYEBODE/Gaia MONFARDINI – Antonino AMATO/Nikoleta STEFANOVA 3-1 (7-11 11-7 11-5 11-8)
