Google News Ladies Open Lausanne: Elisabetta Cocciaretto claims maiden WTA trophy in Switzerland!
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Elisabetta Cocciaretto crowned herself as the champion at the Ladies Open Lausanne on Sunday. The Italian, who was the second-highest seed in the draw, defeated Clara Burel in a two-hour-43-minute three-setter. Cocciaretto eventually prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 over the French player.
Cocciaretto won 57% of her first-serve points to Burel’s 66%. She also won 62% of her second-serve points to her opponent’s 50%. Cocciaretto went on to save five of the nine break points she faced while converting five of eight break points on her opponent’s serve.
After clinching the second set to level the match and push it into the decider, the momentum seemed to be favouring Burel. The world no. 84 built a quick 4-2 lead over her fellow 22-year-old, who’s ranked 42 places above her in the WTA singles rankings.
However, Cocciaretto didn’t look to be giving up on the match without a fight. She turned the match around convincingly and went on to win four consecutive games to take the win.
Ladies Open Lausanne: Elisabetta Cocciaretto's also a 2023 first-timer
Earlier in the tournament, Cocciaretto had needed to save match points in her first-round match against home player, Celine Naef (3-6, 7-6(1), 6-2) and then again in the semi-final on Saturday, against Anna Bondar (6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-3) in order to make it to the final.
Now, following the title run, Cocciaretto will make her top-30 debut in the WTA rankings on Monday, 31st July as the new no. 30. Burel will also mark a new career-high, just outside the top-60, as the world no. 61. Cocciaretto also joined Arantxa Rus as a fellow debutant in the WTA's title-winning list this week.
Rus won the Hamburg European Open on Saturday against Noma Noha Akugue. The Ladies Open Lausanne was the second WTA finale for both Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Clara Burel. For the Italian no. 1, it was also the second finale she’d contested in 2023, coming almost seven months since her first in Australia, in January.
Burel, meanwhile, had to return empty-handed from Lausanne for the second time in her career, after having lost her debut WTA finale here in 2021.