Baran and Cappelletti at the awards.
Photo: Disclosure
Aruba – Santa Catarina beach tennis player André Baran, number 1 in Brazil and fourth in the world, and his Italian partner Michele Cappelletti, sixth in the world rankings, are champions of the BT 400 at the Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships. The final was in the early hours of this Monday, against the Brazilian duo Fabricio Neis and Daniel Schmitt. Baran and Cappelletti won 6/0 and 6/4.
It is the partnership’s first title in a tournament valid for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) calendar and the 25th of Baran’s career. Alongside Cappelletti, the Santa Catarina native was runner-up in the Sand Series in Germany, in their first race together, in August. Champions, also, at the River Open Petrolina, in Pernambuco, in September.
“Very happy with the title. Thank you to everyone who supported, who followed the games, my team, my sponsors. I can only thank you for everything here”, celebrated an emotional Baran.
Baran also won the singles title in Aruba. In the final, he beat his partner Cappelletti 9/7 and received the trophy as the best player of the tournament.
To reach the BT 400 decision, Baran and Cappelletti – seeded 3 – defeated the Russian Nikita Burmakin – the Santa Catarina’s previous partner – and the Spaniard Antomi Ramos, in a very competitive game, by 7/6, 1/6 and 10 -5. For Cappelletti, this was the 74th achievement of the five-time world champion’s career and the first alongside Baran. He repeats 2016 and 2019 when he won the tournament.
The BT 400 of the Aruba Open Beach Tennis Championships brought together prominent names from the world rankings, in men’s and women’s doubles. It was the end of a week of lots of beach tennis in Aruba, with singles and mixed doubles games as well.
Since the 12th in Aruba, Baran has also competed in mixed doubles, with Rafa Miiller from Paraná as his partner, reaching the quarterfinals. And, upon arrival, she played an exhibition game, alongside Cappelletti, in the Supertiebreak Cup, which opened the Aruba Open schedule with several matches.
