Zeltiņa becomes W35 vice-champion in Sicily

Zeltiņa claims vice-champion title in Sicily

Latvian tennis player Zeltiņa suffered a defeat in the final of a W35 tournament in Sicily on Sunday, losing to a 33-year-old Brazilian player with a score of 2-6, 3-6. At the start of the match, the 19-year-old Latvian lost her serve twice (0-1 and 1-4), failed to convert three break points in the fifth game, and the first set ended 2-6. In the second set, Zeltiņa lost serve again in the opening game (0-1), missed six break points in the second game, lost her serve once more (0-3), but then won seven consecutive points to pull back to 2-3. In the following game, she wasted two break points in a row. Zeltiņa saved three match points, but the Brazilian hit an out shot at the end of the eighth game. Zeltiņa lost the remaining exchanges, resulting in a 3-6 set.

During the match, the temperature reached around 30°C. Zeltiņa, who was seeded seventh in the tournament, had a significantly poorer break point conversion rate (2/13 compared to 6/7) and total points won (49 vs 68). The aces and double faults ratio was 0-4 against 0-5. The match lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes.

This was Zeltiņa's first final at the W35 level. Previously, she had played in three W15 finals with a record of 1-2. As vice-champion, she earns approximately $2,107 in prize money and 23 ranking points, while the champion receives $3,935 and 25 points. The highest-ranked opponents Zeltiņa has defeated are ranked #353, #356, #372, #378, #409, #484, #504, and #513.