ORTISEI, December 3, 2016
The qualification of the $10,000 Raiffeisen ITF Val Gardena, held at the Tennis Club Ortisei will start on Sunday with five South Tyrolean women stepping into action. The organizers of the ITF Pro Circuit event have awarded the wild cards to four local players: Teresa Schwienbacher, SophieWalzl, Bettina Paoli and Marion Viertler.
Verena Hofer with Massimo Morelli
Schwienbacher from the Ultental will take on fellow Italian Alice Zapolla in the second match of the day. Elisa Crazzolara from the Gadertal will meet Sophie Walzl from Gargazon in an all-South Tyrolean affair. The match is scheduled as the fourth match. Bettina Paoli from Leifers and Nicole Gadient from Switzerland will square off in the fifth encounter. Marion Viertler from Schlanders will face 25-year-old Italian Elisa Tassotti in the last match of the day on center court.
A total of 11 first-round qualifying matches will take place on Sunday. The second round of qualification will be held on Monday. Main draw matches will start on Tuesday. Local favourite Verena Hofer will open her home campaign on Tuesday evening competing in doubles first. The World No. 980, who made a direct entry into the main draw, will play her first round singles match on Wednesday.
