Three Brazilians go to the semis in Lima, youth in two finals

Lima (Peru) – Three young Brazilians are in the semifinals of the ITF J100 in Lima, on clay courts. Thomas Miranda from São Paulo and Mateus Napoli from Paraná continue in the men’s tournament, while Rio’s Gabriela Felix advanced in the women’s group.

Thomas Miranda won a national duel against João Lago from Paraná, the tournament’s top seed, by 6/3, 1/6 and 6/2. The 16-year-old from São Paulo reaches his second consecutive semi-final on the ITF circuit and his first in a J100 tournament. “I played the first set very well. In the second, the points got longer and he ended up being better in the important moments. But in the third, I was more aggressive,” he said after the match.

Miranda stood out at the beginning of the season in 16-year-old competitions on the Cosat circuit and appears in 957th place in the ITF 18-year-old rankings. The athlete from the Juninho Tennis team, from São Bernardo do Campo, faces the Ecuadorian Francisco Castro, seed 3, who defeated Victor Winheski from Minas Gerais, by 6/4, 2/6 and 6/2. Miranda and Winheski are also doubles finalists, against Castro and Argentine Felipe Dreer.

On the other side of the bracket, Mateus Napoli won another national duel and defeated Davi Carlos by 3/6, 6/2 and 6/1. At 17 years old, Napoli is competing in the fourth semifinal of his career and is seeking his first ITF decision. The Paraná native, who trains with Caio de Brito, in Curitiba, will face Peruvian Josue Ayerbe in the semis. In the women’s competition, Rio’s Gabriela Felix reached the semifinals after beating the North American Sabrina Lin by double 6/3. Currently 310th in the youth world rankings, the Rede Tênis Brasil athlete has two titles on the ITF circuit and faces Chilean Camila Rodero in search of her first final of the season.

Rafael Padilha and Marcco Iannoni compete in ITF finals

18-year-old Gaucho Rafael Padilha reached his first ITF final at J30 Antofagasta, on clay courts in Chile. He was leading the score against host Felipe Jimenez 6/0 and 2/0 when his rival retired. Padilha, who is also an RTB athlete, faces in the decision the local top seed Thomas Piccioli, Pedro Almeida Andres’ tormentor by double 6/4. Two Brazilians fell in the semis, Luiza Rodrigues suffered 6/0 and 6/1 from Peruvian Daniela Gonzales, while Isadora Sigrist fell to Chilean Camila Yaez 6/4 and 6/0.

Already in the ITF J30 of the Cayman Islands, Marcco Iannoni reached his first final at the age of 16. After three victories in the initial stages, he was leading this Thursday’s semi-final against the American Noah Folkesson-Doudy by 3/2 when his opponent retired. His opponent in the final will be Canadian Fernando Mendoza. Last week, Iannoni reached the quarterfinals in Jamaica.

Lucky-loser, Enzo Flores makes quarters on Spanish clay

16-year-old São Paulo native Enzo Flores is in the quarterfinals of the ITF J60 Tarragona, on Spanish clay. After entering the bracket as a lucky loser and getting past local guest Genis Ribas in the main draw debut, he beat Indian Sehaj Singh Pawar, seed 3 at the event, by 6/1 and 6/3. His next rival is North American Jordan Lee. Last week, Flores played in the final in Girona, also in Spain.