Extraordinary. Epic. The brothers Fausto and Giorgio Tabacco give the championship, the first in its history, to the Messina Tennis and Sailing Club. When everything seemed lost, with the Tc Sinalunga ahead 3-1 after the two singles, it was the two brothers who achieved the extraordinary comeback. Which reached its peak with the success in the double play-off against Serafini and Vanni. A match for Tabacco that came close to perfection with a 6-4, 7-6 success. It ended with Fausto Tabacco’s winning volley, on the third match point, and the entire Messina team celebrating a historic moment for the Peloritan club (in their third Italian final) and for the entire city.
Previously, Fausto and Giorgio had always achieved the real, great feat in doubles against Vanni and Gigante. This final was really decided there. When they also canceled out a championship point, later triumphing in the third set (4-7, 7-6, 10-2).
On the fast indoor greenset courts of the Circolo della Stampa Sporting in Turin the Peloritans battled throughout the day, starting as underdogs given the very heavy absence of number 1, Marco Trungelliti, who just this morning in Spain won a tournament with 15 thousand dollars in prize money in the final with Pol Martin Tiffon (for the Italian-Argentine it was the last opportunity to collect points in the ATP ranking, fundamental for participating in the Australian Open qualifiers ). The match started in the best way with Melzer’s success over Serafini 6-4, 7-6. Then the three defeats in a row for the singles players from Messina: Giorgio Tabacco surrendered to Vanni 7-6, 7-4, his brother Fausto clearly lost to Roca Batalla 6-2, 6-3, while Ocleppo was defeated from Gigante by 6-4, 6-3. At 3-1 the two teams went to the doubles and Messina immediately reduced the deficit thanks to the success of Melzer and Ocleppo on Serafini-Bracciali: after winning the first (6-4), the pair of coach Vela gave up the second set to the Sienese (3-6), before signing the tie break of the third set: an extraordinary performance, immediately conquered a mini break, with Ocleppo and Melzer holding the serve until the tenth and decisive point (10-7).
At 3-2 – as mentioned – the Tabacco brothers played a heart-pounding match against Vanni and Gigante: lost the first set 6-4, won the second set 7-6 after trailing by a break twice during the set, canceling a championship point and wasting 8 set points in the tiebreak (12-10) . In the decisive partial there was no story (10-2). Fausto and Giorgio have too much desire to win. In the decisive doubles the apotheosis.