GRENOBLE, France — Russia's Alina Zagitova rebounded from an error-laden short program on Saturday to earn her second grand prix title this month and qualify for next month's final, while Javier Fernandez of Spain fell twice but still won the men's title.
Performing to "Don Quixote" at the Internationaux de France in Grenoble, world junior champion Zagitova cleanly executed all the elements of her jump-packed free program, earning first place with a total of 213.80 points.
Wearing a red tutu, the 15-year-old demonstrated her ability to bounce back after a rough short program on Friday in which she fell on her triple lutz triple toe combination, as well as on her triple flip.
With wins at the France and China grand prix events, Zagitova has secured a spot in her first senior-level Grand Prix Final in Japan.
Compatriot Maria Sotskova, who had finished second behind Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond in the short program on Friday, finished second overall with 208.78 points, expertly executing a triple lutz triple toeloop combination at the start of her skate.
Osmond, the world silver medalist who won the Skate Canada event last month, failed to capitalize on her lead in the short program, finishing third with 206.77 points.
Despite performing a series of quality jumps in her free program, Osmond took a step after her double axel-triple toeloop combination before falling on her triple loop.
But her third place in France and her Skate Canada title are enough to see her through to the Grand Prix Final, taking place two months before the start of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
After having taken the lead Friday with a stellar season-best performance in the short program, Fernandez fell on his quad salchow and triple axel in his free skate but still managed to win the title with 283.71 points.
The two-time world champion finished more than 10 points ahead of Japan's Shoma Uno, who also fell twice in his free program. Misha Ge of Uzbekistan took third place with 258.34 points.
Russia's Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov hung on to win the pairs event with 218.20 points despite making uncharacteristic mistakes, including sloppily combining their triple and double toeloops.
But the pair, the bronze medalists at this year's World Championships, compensated for some of their errors with spectacular height on throws and lifts.
France's Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres finished nearly four points behind the Russian pair, while Italians Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise finished third with 197.59 points.
In ice dance, France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron pleased the home crowd with a stunning free dance that saw them tally 201.98 points overall, a world record.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States finished more than 20 points behind the French pair. Russia's Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin took third place with 177.24 points.
The two-time former world champions became the first ice-dancing pair to ever break 200 points earlier this month in China, and they posted a new best of 201.98 points at the Internationaux de France. — Reuters
