The French qualifier Moise Kouame was Saturday’s biggest sensation when he defeated the top-seeded Romanian Yannick Theodor Alexandrescou.
The semifinal between Kouame and Alexandrescou in the Kungens Kanna was the day’s longest, best, and most dramatic match. The players had to bring out their absolute highest level, and after two hours and 40 minutes, the Frenchman was victorious with 2–6, 6–4, 6–4. From the audience’s applause, one could assume he was the favourite.
The second semifinal, which we named in yesterday’s release the “Battle of the Iberian Peninsula”, went to Portugal. The hot-tempered Spaniard, Valentin Gonzalez-Galino, could not live up to his previous level, mostly due to the skill of his opponent Salvador Monteiro. After an even first set, 6–4, the Portuguese took over command entirely and finished the second set swiftly.
In Drottningens Pris, SALK player Tiana Tian Deng was knocked out against 17th-ranked Anna Pushkareva. Tiana started strongly but could not keep ahead the narrow initial lead and lost 5–7, 1–6. Although Tiana looked a little disappointed after the match, she should still be delighted with her performance. Tiana Tian Deng is the first Swede in ten years to reach the singles semifinals in the Kungens Kanna & Drottningens Pris. Very impressive!
In the final, Pushkareva meets her doubles partner Giulia Safina Popa from Romania.
The girls’ doubles final for the Peter Wallenberg Honorary Prize went to Luna Vujovic, Serbia, paired with Veronika Sekerkova, Czech Republic; they easily defeated Pushkareva/Popa 6–3, 6–1 in a very defensive match from both pairs. But, unfortunately, they only went to the net when it was time to give thanks for the match.
The boys’ doubles final was much more exciting. In a classy and fun doubles match, Valentin Gonzalez-Galino, Spain, paired with Victor Ryden from Södertälje won the PTK with 3–6, 6–0, 10–8 against Yannick Theodor Alexandrescou, Romania, paired with Dmytro Vterkovskyi from Ukraine.
Tomorrow, Sunday, the Kungens Kanna & Drottningens Pris finals will be played at 11.30 a.m. on courts 1 and 2 in the Royal Tennis Club of Stockholm.