ORTISEI/STARNBERG, November 29, 2025
In the high-alpine brilliance of Ortisei, two players who quietly built their momentum throughout the week will take center stage in Saturday’s final at the Sparkasse ITF Val Gardena Südtirol: Canada’s Kayla Cross and Spain’s Eva Guerrero Alvarez. On paper, it is a surprising pairing. On court, it feels inevitable.
Cross arrived in the Dolomites fresh from a semifinal and final run at two consecutive $40,000 events in Chihuahua, Mexico, and carried that confidence straight into South Tyrol. Guerrero Alvarez, meanwhile, entered the tournament riding the energy of a Serie A1 semifinal victory for AT Verona just days ago, where she clinched the deciding set 7–6. The 26-year-old Spaniard also reached a semifinal in Funchal and pushed through to the Round of 16 at the WTA 125 in Rovereto earlier this season, steadily rebuilding toward the Grand Slam tournaments where she has already competed five times.
For Guerrero Alvarez, the stakes are clear: valuable points this week in Ortisei – and next week in Selva di Val Gardena – could keep her in contention for the Australian Open qualifying draw. Her aggressive style thrives on fast courts; she serves with intent, steps inside the baseline early, and sustains pressure with disciplined shot-making. She looks every bit like a player edging back toward the Top 200.
Cross, 20, earned her final berth with a composed 6–4, 6–4 win over Britain’s rising talent Mimi Xu. The left-hander relies on relentless retrieving paired with opportunistic aggression, using her wide-spinning serve to open the court with surgical precision. Guerrero Alvarez booked her place by defeating No. 3 seed Francisca Jorge 6–4, 6–2, explaining afterward that she served well, maintained pace, and refused to give away free points. Cross echoed a similar clarity: her goal was simply to “get one more ball back” without compromising her attacking instincts.
A doubles masterclass to set the tone
Friday’s doubles final delivered a thrilling preview of championship weekend. Cross teamed up with Anna Rogers to win the title 7–6(4), 7–6(7), surviving determined resistance from young Italians Samira De Stefano and Giulia Maduzzi. The local duo played fearlessly: De Stefano, a left-handed ball-striker, fired bold angles, while Maduzzi showcased delicate volleying touch.
Rogers spoke glowingly of the atmosphere — the mountains, the valley, the unique feeling of arriving straight from Mexico to the Dolomites. Cross, visibly fatigued after two intense tournament weeks, pushed through lapses with grit, further proving her competitive maturity. De Stefano and Maduzzi, childhood doubles partners, left disappointed but grateful, emphasizing how much joy they found competing on home soil.
At the trophy ceremony, Tournament Director Martina Moser presided with charm, while FITP South Tyrol president Marco Cordaro highlighted the importance of such events for the region’s tennis ecosystem.
The tennis caravan rolls on
As Cross returns on Saturday morning to chase a remarkable singles-and-doubles double, the tour prepares to move just a few kilometers down the valley. On Sunday, the action shifts to Selva di Val Gardena, where TC Gherdeina hosts another $40,000 event — again one of Italy’s top-tier tournaments. Many players from this week’s draw will continue their Alpine campaign there, joined by local favorites including Laura Mair and sisters Lisa and Julia Peer.
