ORTISEI, December 5, 2016

The three seeded players of the qualifying at the Raiffeisen ITF Val Gardena have found their way into the main draw of the $10,000 ITF Pro Circuit event, held at the Tennis Club Ortisei.

No. 1 Susan Bandecchi defeated Francesca Palmegiani 6-4, 7-6. The 18-year-old from Switzerland won 76 per cent of her first service points and capitalized on three of her six break point chances to seal victory in one hour and 40 minutes. Bandecchi will meet Italian Giorgia Marchetti in the first round.

She will be joined in the main draw by second seed Alessia Piran. The 24-year-old emerged victorious from the all-Italian-encounter with Chiara de Vito, rallying 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. Third favourite Simona Waltert produced nine double fault but broke serve seven times to edge past Alena Weiss of Austria, winning 6-1, 7-5 in one hour and 18 minutes.

The last player standing from South Tyrol, Elisa Crazzolara, lost in the final round of the qualification 6-2, 6-2 to Sandra Bozinovic from France. The encounter lasted just under one hour of play. Bozinovic will next take on Lucia Bronzetti of Italy.