At the Pala Dean Martin in Montesilvano, Giorgia PICCOLIN (Centro Sportivo Esercito) and John OYEBODE (Tennistavolo Sassari) won the singles titles at the Italian National Championships. It marked PICCOLIN’S fifth national title and the first for OYEBODE, who triumphed in the first singles final of his career.
In the women’s singles final, PICCOLIN defeated reigning champion Nicole ARLIA (Centro Sportivo Aeronautica Militare) 4-1. Debora VIVARELLI (Centro Sportivo Esercito) and Gaia MONFARDINI (ASV TT Südtirol) finished in joint third place.
“I’m happy,” said PICCOLIN. “This fifth title came after a two-season break—I really missed it. This time, I approached the competition with a different mindset, I was calmer than in the last two editions. With the Olympics in Paris coming up, I saw this as a test. Niagol’s father (Stoyanov, her partner in competition and life) couldn’t be on the bench with me, so I had to manage everything on my own. I’m satisfied with how I handled the pressure. In the quarterfinals, I played very solidly. Even in the semifinals, I had some luck in a few sets. During the final, when I was trailing 6-1 in the fifth set, I won a key point and everything clicked—I turned it around and took the title.”
In the men’s singles, OYEBODE beat Jordy PICCOLIN (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) 4-1 in the final. In the semifinals, OYEBODE had eliminated defending champion Mihai Bobocica (Centro Sportivo Aeronautica Militare), while PICCOLIN came back from two sets down to beat Andrea PUPPO (Tennistavolo Sassari), both winning 4-2.
“A title like this, especially against Jordy—who I had never beaten—means a lot,” said OYEBODE. “It was my first final, but I wasn’t nervous at all, I just enjoyed it. It was also my father’s birthday, so I really wanted to win. The semifinal against BOBOCICA was the toughest match of the tournament. He remains incredibly sharp and tough to beat. I never felt fully in control, but I kept pushing and reached the final. Once there, I told myself to enjoy the moment. The pressure was on him, not me, and I really had fun out there.”
In women’s doubles, Debora VIVARELLI and Giorgia PICCOLIN (Centro Sportivo Esercito) played in their fifth consecutive final—the third against reigning champions Nikoleta STEFANOVA (Tennistavolo Castel Goffredo) and Nicole ARLIA. VIVARELLI and PICCOLIN secured their third national title, winning 3-1. The bronze medals went to Chiara COLANTONI (Tennistavolo Eureka) and Valentina RONCALLO (Muravera Tennistavolo), and to Miriam CARNOVALE and Arianna BARANI (Quattro Mori Cagliari).
In men’s doubles, Jordy PICCOLIN (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) and Federico VALLINO COSTASSA (Marcozzi Cagliari) won the title in their first tournament together. They overcame John OYEBODE and Carlo ROSSI in the semifinals and went on to defeat Stefano TOMASI (Milano Sport Tennistavolo) and Maxim KUZNETSOV (Marcozzi Cagliari) in the final. TOMASI and KUZNETSOV had previously beaten Matteo FANTONI and Giacomo ALLEGRANZA.
In mixed doubles, John OYEBODE and Gaia MONFARDINI (ASV TT Südtirol) reached their third consecutive final and claimed their second national title together, defeating rising stars Francesco TREVISAN (Tennistavolo Silver Lining) and Francesca SEU (Muravera Tennistavolo) in straight games. Third place went to Tommaso GIOVANNETTI (Top Spin Messina) and Chiara COLANTONI, and to Federico Vallino COSTASSA and Nikoleta STEFANOVA.
Men’s Singles:
Semifinals
- Jordy PICCOLIN – Andrea PUPPO 4-2 (9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4)
- John OYEBODE – MIHAI BOBOCICA 4-2 (5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8)
Finals
- John OYEBODE – Jordy PICCOLIN 4-1 (14-12, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4)
Women’s Singles:
Semifinals
- Giorgia PICCOLIN – Debora VIVARELLI 4-0 (11-5, 12-10.11-6, 12-10)
- Nicole ARLIA – Gaia MONFARDINI 4-2 (13-11, 11-6, 9-11 11-6, 4-11, 11-4)
Finals
- Giorgia PICCOLIN – Nicole ARLIA 4-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8)
Men’s doubles:
Semifinals
- Stefano TOMASI/Maxim KUZNETSOV – Matteo FANTONI/Giacomo ALLEGRANZA 3-2 (11-1, 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 12-10)
- Jordy PICCOLIN/Federico VALLINO COSTASSA – John OYEBODE/Carlo ROSSI 3-2 (11-8, 10-12, 14-12, 5-11, 11-9)
Finals
- Jordy PICCOLIN/Federico VALLINO COSTASSA – Stefano TOMASI/Maxim KUZNETSOV 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-5)
Women’s doubles:
Semifinals
- Nikoleta STEFANOVA/Nicole ARLIA – Miriam CANOVALE/Arianna BARANI 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-9)
- Debora VIVARELLI/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Chiara COLANTONI/Valentina RONCALLO 3-2 (11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-8)
Finals
- Debora VIVARELLI/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Nikoleta STEFANOVA/Nicole ARLIA 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9)
Mixed doubles
Semifinals
- John OYEBODE/Gaia MONFARDINI – Tommaso GIOVANNETTI/Chiara COLANTONI 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8)
- Francesco TREVISAN/Francesca SEU – Federico VALLINO COSTASSA/Nikoleta STEFANOVA 3-2 (11-5, 7-11, 6-1, 11-8, 11-6)
Finals
- John OYEBODE/Gaia MONFARDINI – Francesco TREVISAN/Francesca SEU 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 14-12)
