Saturday, October 28, 2023.- Laura Pigossi's net shot (125th in the ATP rankings) becomes unreachable for Julia Riera (157th), and the Brazilian falls backward onto the clay at the Court Central del Estadio Nacional. Tears of joy and emotion stream down her face as she has just won a grueling match that extended to the third-set tiebreak, securing her place in the female's tennis final at Santiago 2023.

It was more than three hours of intense competition, resulting in a tight 4-6, 6-4, and 7-6 (5) victory, making the celebration well-deserved.

This victory not only placed her in the gold medal match against Argentine María Lourdes Carlé (146th), but also allowed her to register her name for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, a prize reserved for the finalists in the female's and male's singles at Santiago 2023.

A while earlier, Carlé (146th) earned her spot in the match for the gold medal through a somewhat easier path than Pigossi, defeating Canadian Rebecca Marino (166th) 6-1 and 6-4.

The female's singles final of Santiago 2023 will take place this Sunday starting at 17:00 hours.

Written by Rodrigo Gómez; translated by Felipe Vergara / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
Photo by Alex Diaz / Santiago 2023 via Photosport