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The women’s Italy team (in the photo by Giuseppe Di Carlo) is in the semi-finals at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto 2026. At the “Giovanni Paolo II” stadium in Massafra they beat Portugal 3-1 in the quarterfinals, which they had already defeated in the last match at the World Cup in London. Tomorrow, Friday 28 August, at 10 am, at table 1, they will face Turkey for a place in the final. In the blue team there is also the young Calabrian tennis player (from Vibo Valentia), Miriam Carnovale.
In the first singles Gaia Monfardini (n. 86 in the world ranking) lost 3-0 (5-11, 10-12, 10-12) to Jieni Shao (n. 72). The Portuguese started at 4-1 and from 4-2 extended to 6-2. From 7-4 she got six set-points (10-4) and took advantage of the second. In the second set the Italian was again trailed (2-7) and recovered to 4-7 and from 4-8 to 8-8. He faced two set points (8-10) and canceled them, but on the third (10-11) he didn’t repeat himself.
When the game restarted, Monfardini recovered from 3-1 (3-3) and from 4-4 took the lead to 7-4. From 8-5 she was overcome (8-9) and earned a set-point (10-9), which she missed. Shao’s match point (11-10) was decisive.
In the second match Giorgia Piccolin (n. 75) prevailed (13-11, 11-9, 11-2) over Mariana Santa Comba (n. 329) and impacted the situation
The Italian athlete rose from 3-5 to 5-5 and from 5-7 to 10-7. The three closing chances were lost and also the fourth (11-10), while the fifth (12-11) was favorable to her. Piccolin persisted (3-1), but suffered a 6-0 break (3-7). She got back on track (6-7) and from 7-9 she scored the final 4-0. In the fourth quarter the Bolzano team spread (8-0) and easily reached the finish line.
In the doubles, Nicole Arlia and Monfardini won 3-0 (11-8, 13-11, 11-9) over Santa Comba and Shao. The Castellanas led from 5-5 to 8-5 and had four set points (10-6), taking advantage of the third. In the second set there was balance (6-6) and in the hot phase Arlia and Monfardini did well to recover from 6-8 to 8-8 and at 8-10 to cancel the two set points. They had one (11-10), which flew by, and the second (12-11) came to an end. Upon returning to the table, the Mantuans from 3-5 made the lead (5-5) and from 5-7 the over (9-7). They secured two match points (10-8) and celebrated at the second.
In the comparison between the two n. 1, Piccolin put the exclamation point, with 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-8) over Shao. His start was excellent (3-1), with the extension from 3-2 to 6-2. From 6-4 she sprinted to 10-4 and the third set point smiled on her. In the second half Piccolin was tied from 5-3 to 5-5 and overtaken from 7-5 to 7-8. At 9-9, with the serve available, he got both points on the scoresheet. After the change of ends the Bolzano team recovered from 0-4 to 5-5 and from 6-8 they imposed the final 5-0.