Ferro claims her second WTA title in Palermo

Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro finished off a superb week at the Palermo Open with a 6-2,7-5 straight sets win over No.4 seed Estonian Anett Kontaveit, claiming her second career WTA title.

“I think it was my best match of the week,” Ferro said after the match. “I was feeling relaxed; I don’t know why because it was a final! I wasn’t really feeling pressure. It was a tough match because she’s a really consistent player who doesn’t give you too many points. I had a good intensity throughout the whole match, I didn’t miss a lot, made a lot of winners, so I’m really happy to have the trophy with me.”

24 hours earlier the Estonian had come thorough probably her toughest match of the covid interrupted year by taking out local heroine Camila Giorgi 7-5 in the third set of a tense semi-final.

Ferro had arrived in Palermo with an undefeated 10-0 record in her home exhibition matches in two regional tournaments while the WTA tour had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She followed through with five more wins with the loss of just one set in Palermo, defeating Kontaveit in one hour and 43 minutes on Centre Court.

Ferro said afterwards “This title means a lot, especially after five tough months of practice. I was already feeling so happy just to be back on court and competing, so this is an even nicer way to finish the week with the win.”