A 16-year-old wants to win the title in Val Gardena. © ITFWolkenstein

ITF Wolkenstein: Generational duel in the Dolomites

The final of the “Raiffeisen ITF Val Gardena Südtirol”, with prize money of 40.000 dollars, could hardly be more symbolic: 16-year-old American Tyra Grant, a symbol of the up-and-coming tennis youth, challenges the experienced 27-year-old Canadian Stacey Fung. Eleven years separate the two finalists – a gap that makes the match special not only in sporting terms, but also in narrative terms.

29 November 2024

From: pm

Grant, daughter of former basketball pro Tyrone Grant, grew up in Italy and is already considered a promising player for the next generation of tennis players. She honed her skills at the renowned Piatti Tennis Academy, where she also met today's number 1 men's tennis player - our Jannik Sinner.

In yesterday's semifinal, the young American once again proved her mental strength: Against the Slovakian WTA-experienced Viktória Hruncáková (26), who has an enormous reputation with 14 singles and seven doubles titles and 2,7 million dollars in prize money in her career, Grant won 7:5 and 7:6 (2) after an impressive performance. The fact that she was able to keep her nerve in crucial moments speaks for a maturity that goes far beyond her years.

Stacey Fung comes from Canada. © ITFWolkenstein

On the other side of the final is Stacey Fung, Canadian consistency in person. The 27-year-old has won eight singles and three doubles titles on the ITF tour, but in Selva she finally wants to celebrate another big moment. In the semi-final against the Israeli number 231 in the world, Lina Glushko (24), Fung relied on her experience and won the close match after two tiebreaks with 7:6(5), 7:6(3). The match, which was characterized by strong serves and only a few breaks, lasted for two and a half hours - proof of the toughness of both players.

With an age difference of eleven years, tomorrow's final at 10 a.m. could be significant in more than just sporting terms. It will be a clash between two very different career stages: Grant, the up-and-coming talent who is still at the beginning of her career, and Fung, the experienced player who wants to consolidate her position on the tour.

double title was awarded

In the doubles final, which was played on Thursday, the Polish-Swedish duo Martyna Kubka and Lisa Zaar won comfortably against Carolina Kuhl (Germany) and Mia Ristic (Serbia). With a clear 6:3, 6:0 victory, they confirmed their role as favorites. The new doubles champions only lost 11 games in the three matches to win the tournament. An impressive run. The tennis world is looking eagerly to Wolkenstein: This final between the young wild one and the experienced veteran not only promises to be extremely exciting, but could also be a foretaste of the future of women's tennis.