On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the day turned out to be a dismal one for Italian women’s tennis, as all the Azzurre competing in various tournaments faced elimination. The first to bow out were Nuria Brancaccio and Camilla Rosatello, the last two representatives of Italy in the WTA 250 event in Rouen. They were followed by veteran Sara Errani, who was defeated by Poland's Magdalena Frech in a thrilling match at the WTA 500 in Stuttgart.
Starting with the WTA 250 in Rouen, Nuria Brancaccio, who had been given a second chance as a lucky loser, was knocked out after a hard-fought battle against Japan's Moyuka Uchijima. Brancaccio lost the match with a score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Meanwhile, Camilla Rosatello, who had previously secured a victory against Alicia Parks, fell to Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4. With these defeats, all Italian players were eliminated from the Rouen tournament.
The focus then shifted to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where Sara Errani, ranked 152nd in the world, was hoping to make a significant impact after entering the tournament as a lucky loser. Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed in a nail-biting match against Frech, currently ranked 28th in the world. The match lasted almost three hours and ended with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5).
Errani’s journey in the tournament was filled with ups and downs. She initially struggled, falling behind 3-0 in the first set. However, she managed to rally and break back, showcasing her fighting spirit. Despite her efforts, Errani lost the first set 7-5. In the second set, she found her rhythm, breaking Frech early and maintaining her lead to win 6-4, leveling the match.
The final set was a rollercoaster. Errani took a break lead early on, going up 2-1, but Frech fought back, breaking Errani's serve to level the score. The tension escalated as both players exchanged breaks, with Errani serving for the match at 5-4. However, she was unable to close it out, and the match proceeded to a deciding tie-break.
In the tie-break, Errani initially took control, leading 5-2 and looking poised to clinch victory. Yet, it was here that her hopes slipped away. A crucial drop shot error allowed Frech to capitalize, and the Polish player won five consecutive points to take the tie-break 7-6 (5), sealing the match in dramatic fashion. Errani's performance, while commendable, left her with a sense of what could have been, especially given her strong position in the tie-break.
After the match, Errani reflected on her performance, expressing disappointment but also acknowledging her competitive spirit. "I fought hard, but I just couldn’t finish it off when it mattered most," she said. Errani's loss means she continues to seek her first victory in a main draw of a major tournament since the 2023 US Open.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, is preparing for her own challenge in Stuttgart after receiving a bye to the second round due to the withdrawal of Anastasia Potapova. Sabalenka took the opportunity to address ongoing controversies surrounding revenue distribution in tennis, emphasizing that players deserve a larger share of tournament earnings. "We players are the ones putting on the show, so I think we should be paid a bit more by the tournaments," she stated during a press conference. Sabalenka highlighted the disparities between tennis and other sports like the NHL and NBA, advocating for a re-evaluation of how prize money is distributed across the board.
As the tournaments progress, the Italian contingent faces a challenging road ahead. With all players eliminated from the current events, they will be looking to regroup and come back stronger in upcoming competitions. The situation serves as a reminder of the fierce competition in women’s tennis and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
As the dust settles on this disappointing day for Italian tennis, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Errani and her compatriots respond in the future. With the clay season in full swing, there’s still plenty of opportunities for redemption and success on the horizon.
