The BNL d'Italia 2026 pre-qualification Open Tournament concludes at Match Ball Firenze with victories for Cristiana Ferrando and Alessandro Ingarao.

Arezzo, July 21, 2025 – The BNL d'Italia 2026 pre-qualification Open Tournament concluded at Match Ball Firenze with victories for Cristiana Ferrando and Alessandro Ingarao.

The favourite of the women's draw overcame the never-say-die Anastasia Grymalska (2) in a hard-fought final in the second set, while the final men's match followed with Alessandro Ingarao's easy 62 62 victory over Stefano Baldoni.

In the women's event, Cristiana Ferrando defeated Tuscan Emma Martellenghi 75-61 in the semifinals, who had also excelled in the quarterfinals, defeating Federica Bilardo. On the other side of the draw, Anastasia Grymalska defeated Cristina Pescucci 63-62 in the semifinals. In the final, the first set went smoothly for the top-seeded player, who closed the set 62. Then, at 4-2 and ahead, Grymalska did well to stay in the match and take a 4-3 lead. She lost her serve, and Ferrando could have served at 5-3, but her shoulder buckled, and she had to serve from underneath, seeing two match points cancelled. At the changeover at 5-4, she requested medical attention, and at the restart, the match was tied at 5-5. The match went to a tie break, where at 6-5, Grymalska had set point, but Ferrando cancelled it and closed the match 8-6.

"I'm not very fit, and I struggled in the third match," Ferrando explains. "In the end, it went well. It was my first time playing at Match Ball Firenze, and I'm really happy to have managed to win this prestigious event."

"I tried to stay in the match, but maybe I was a bit tired too, so I couldn't win the second set," Grymalska said. "But I always enjoy coming to Match Ball Firenze because it's incredibly organized."

In the men's event, the men's final between the three-time Italian Second Category champion, the Sicilian Alessandro Ingarao (Match Ball Siracusa) and Stefano Baldoni (Ct Giotto Arezzo), who did well to overcome the favorite, former ATP number 108, Franco Gabriel Agamenone, who had retired at 5-1, in the semifinal.

Battle until late evening instead for Alessandro Ingarao in the semi-final against Filippo Speziali winner of the last Open Indoor with the Sicilian who wins in the third set 75 57 62

"Tuscany is a good place for me. I've already won an Open, and now I've managed to win the event to get to Rome," Ingarao says. "It would be my fourth time there, and after this result, my goal is getting closer."

In the men's doubles, the pair Filippo Speziali and Carlo Alberto Fossati (3) won the tournament and qualified for the pre-qualifications of the Bnl d'Italia 2026, prevailing in the final over the duo Alessandro Ingarao and Stefano Baldoni (1) 46 64 10-4

In the women's competition, the duo composed of Agnese Gentili and Francesca Galli won in the final round against Gaia Mais and Ida Pina Ferro Galateo by 26 64 10-6

"An excellent level of play and a great show," explains Match Ball Firenze vice president Leonardo Casamonti. "We're satisfied with this first summer edition. It's a good starting point."

"There's been so much quality in a tournament that has transformed and brought many fourth-tier players to play in various provincial tournaments," says Fitp Toscana president Luigi Brunetti. "Then the tournament went on to play a first-ever Summer Open, which proved it has a place on the national scene, with the participation of numerous top players in second-tier Italian tennis."

The event directors were Paolo Lapini and Chiara Casamonti while the official referee was Alessio Bustone

Winners of the final 3rd and 4th category tournaments who will participate in the national tournament in Rome 2026:

Fourth category men: Francesco Calanchi

Fourth female category: Angelica Pileri

Third category men: Teo Novellino

Third category women: Zeyd Al Kilani Ayya

Men's Doubles, 4th category: Marco Melosi and Alessandro Parola

Women's Doubles, 4th category: Patrizia Felicini and Alessia Giulicchi