Due to the current tricky times, Bonfiglio has been moved from its usual period falling on the end of May to mid-July, just after Wimbledon has ended.
As the tournament cannot benefit of its “preparation to the French Open” usual function and since Wimbledon was instead so close in the calendar, this year’s entry list has been weaker than usual. As per the boys event, the cut to the main draw was set at the 96th spot; whilst for the girls’ event it fell close to the 150th: usually, the cut for the main draws falls around the 65ft-70th position. To some extent, the girls’ event may be considered more interesting since three top 10s are participating (Eala, Shnaider and Fruhvirtova + Fruhvirtova’s sister, as a bonus), while no top10s males are playing.
As a result of an entry list weaker than usual, the qualification rounds were not too exciting: Italian Camilla Gennaro has played an enjoyable match and qualified, before being dismissed in the first round of the main draw; as per the boys event, Russian Kukasian has displayed a huge serve and a big forehand, maybe not paired by an equally big backhand. Kukasian has lost in the third qualifying round from Italian Tabacco, but he gained access to the main draw as lucky loser and managed to qualify to the third round.
Up to now, the most interesting match I saw was the one between the first seed Alexandra Eala, from the Philippines, and the younger of the Fruhvirtova sisters, i.e. Brenda, aging only 14. Eala has won 6-1 6-2 but the match was not as easy as the score shows, since many games were quite tight. Brenda is not particularly tall but, despite her young age, her frame is very muscular (maybe even too much?). She tries to play a big power-tennis and indeed she is capable of doing that: it’s arguable that she misses a bit of variety, though. Her game reminds me of her sister’s, who i saw playing two years ago, when she was also 14. Eala impressed me more than Brenda, to be honest. She dismissed “little” Fruhvirtova with ease also thanks to her superior experience, as she won all the most important points; having said that, the girl is remarkably talented, being capable to hit winners both with her forehand and backhand and to leave her opponents at 3 metres from the ball. It’s since Swiatek’s times i was not so impressed with a player, even if i want to see Eala again before rendering a definitive judgement on her.
Most surprisingly, also the “old” Fruhvirtova (Linda) is already out, having lost against the 14 year old Russian Mirra Andreeva. How could a 14 year old girl beat a strong and experienced player as Linda, is a mystery to me; indeed I will try to see this girl playing: she may well be a super-star.
As per the boys’ event, the biggest surprise was the loss of the first seed, the French Sean Cuenin ( semi-finalist in the last Roland Garros) against the Portuguese Henrique Rocha, who is said to own a super heavy forehand. There were many other upsets in the boys tournament, though, as only one of the top ten seeds made it to the third round, i.e. the second seed Dali Blanch. Dali is the the younger brother of Ulyses Blanch, who i saw some years ago playing and losing the final of Bonfiglio against Stefanos Tsitsipas, and whose heavy forehand i still remember. I will check how the little brother plays, if I manage to.
