Laura Mair is in the round of 16. © PM
With the third day of the tournament, the serious phase began at the Sparkasse ITF W50 Val Gardena Südtirol in Ortisei: The big favorites intervened in the action at the $40,000 tournament and were promptly challenged.
25. November 2025
From: pm
For local tennis fans, the focus was primarily on Laura Mair (WTA 586), who was under particular pressure as a local hopeful. In the end, the 22-year-old from Wolkenstein shook her way to a three-set win over Ukrainian qualifier Anastasiia Firman after 2 hours and 41 minutes: 6:4, 3:6, 7:6 (5).
It was a victory that took more effort than expected. Mair has been struggling for days with the transition from the usual clay court to the fast indoor surface and the uncertainty was obvious this time too. Many slight mistakes, a forehand that barely penetrated, only the serve remained reliable. When Firman had three break opportunities at 2:2 in the third set, the Val Gardena woman visibly faltered, but saved herself in the tiebreak. There they briefly fell behind 2:3 before four points in a row overturned the match. In particular, a finely placed stop ball to make it 4:3 made the well-filled hall breathe a sigh of relief.
“We both made a lot of mistakes,” Mair said afterwards. “In the second set I played slower because I felt unsafe. I was better in the tiebreak and had a few good returns.” In the round of 16 she will now face Canadian Kayla Cross (WTA 233), a 20-year-old left-hander who is still fighting for important points to qualify for the Australian Open.
Maines with the biggest win of her career
Also pleasing from a South Tyrolean perspective: Noemi Maines (WTA 833) prevailed in the club’s internal duel between two players from TC Rungg against the higher ranked Camilla Zanolini (WTA 553). The 19-year-old talent from Trentino, who has only been training in Überetsch for a few months, once again showed clear progress under coach Valerio Gasbarri.
“The serve made the difference today,” said Maines after her biggest career win. The nervousness was great “because we train together every day and I first had to pick up Camilla’s high pace.” She also thanked her former club ATA Battisti, “for the excellent work of the last few years”.
The Swede Lisa Zaar (25/WTA 437) is now waiting in the round of 16, who surprised with a clear 6:4, 6:3 over the American Anna Rogers (WTA 251).
Sister duel from Portugal
The tournament is given a special touch by a family encounter: the Portuguese sisters Francisca and Matilde Jorge face each other in the round of 16. The older Francisca (25, WTA 207) is ranked around 50 places ahead of her sister. The two won a doubles tournament in the WTA 125 series together in 2024 and now at least one set separates them in Val Gardena.
Dramas over three hours
Two other games provided the most intense moments of the day: Former WTA top 30 player Urszula Radwańska defeated Spaniard Cristina D. Adrover 7:6 (3), 5:7, 6:4 after 3 hours and 34 minutes. A feat of strength that captivated the audience.
Kathinka von Deichmann, who stopped last year’s winner Weronika Falkowska (POL), also had to cover the full distance. After 2:6, 7:6 (5), 7:6 (5), the Liechtensteiner finally reached the round of 16.
