ITF

22 ITFWorld // SUMMER 2018 CHANGING GUARD? The pre-tournament favourites made their presence felt but they did not have it all their own way at the summer's major Beach Tennis events. WHILE THERE WAS STILL A PLACE FOR THE STATUS QUO AND SOMETHING OF A NATURAL ORDER, THE STORY OF THE BEACH TENNIS summer was one of revenge, trailblazers, ever-expanding chinks in seemingly impenetrable armour and the slipping of crowns. On the sands of Moscow's National Tennis Centre in August, Brazil claimed their second ITF Tennis World Team Championship title at the expense of defending champions, four-time winners and top seeds Italy. No matter what Italy mustered, they were no match for the 2013 victors. Experienced Brazilian pair Joana Cortez and Rafaella Miiller held their nerve to overcome equal world No. 1's Federica Bacchetta and Giulia Gasparri in three sets, 62 46 63. Once men's pairing Thales Santos and Marcus Ferreira had chalked up a straight-sets triumph over Michele Cappelletti and Luca Carli, the South Americans had secured retribution for their defeat at the hands of Italy in the final 12 months previously. An emotional and tearful Vinicius Font, Brazil's team captain-player, was only too happy to frame victory for his side, who were a point from elimination to Germany earlier in the week, as the perfect retort to their detractors. "I can tell you that it means a lot to us and for everybody that is here," said Font, following his side's triumph in the seventh edition of the competition. "There was a lot of people that doubted us, but I had no doubt at any moment." Santos, meanwhile, suggested their success would be a significant springboard for the sport's future back home. He said: "All the people are waiting for us to celebrate because beach tennis is really important in Brazil. "They are really investing a lot in the sport – they really trust that this sport can be huge and I'm very happy for this." There was redemption for Italy, however, in the competition's junior event as they secured their third title in four years with a brutal dismantling of France, which took just 78 minutes. And it was far from universal disappointment for Bacchetta and Gasparri, who a matter of days earlier had retained their ITF Beach Tennis World Championships crown after triumphing on the home soil of Cervia in the women's doubles. Top seeds Italy reached the final but succumbed to Brazil Brazil triumphed on the sands of Moscow B E A C H T E N N I S of the

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