Orsi and Marchetti Beat France to Reach Mediterranean Games Semifinal

Carolina Orsi and Giorgia Marchetti are through to the women's padel semifinal at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto after beating France's Louise Bahurel and Lucile Pothier 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday.

A statement quarterfinal

The fourth-seeded Italians controlled the match from the first game. Tournament stats had them winning 41 percent of points on the French pair's serve, against just 20 percent the other way. Orsi and Marchetti already have a major title together, gold at the 2023 European Games in Krakow, so this stage is familiar ground.

Spain waits in the semifinal

Their next opponent is set: second-seeded Patty Llaguno and Lucia Sainz, who eliminated Tunisia's Dora Chamli and Nour Allani 6-0, 6-1 in the other bottom-half quarterfinal. Llaguno and Sainz are both former world number ones and remain inside the top 25 today. Orsi and Llaguno also know each other's games well - they play together on the FIP Silver circuit when they are not on national team duty.

What's next

The semifinal is scheduled for no earlier than 18:00 CEST on Wednesday in Taranto. The winner moves on to Friday's gold medal match, part of "Super Friday," when all three Mediterranean Games padel titles - men's, women's and mixed - will be decided.