Lucia Bronzetti thwarted Julia Grabher’s multiple comebacks in the Rabat Grand Prix final on Saturday as she clinched a career-first WTA title. Bronzetti needed almost three hours to win 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 against the Austrian.
Bronzetti seized the momentum early on and went up a set. In fact, she even secured a break for herself in the second set and even served for the title in the 10th game. However, Grabher staved off Bronzetti’s attempts and brought the set back on serve before pocketing it for herself after getting another break in the 12th game.
In the second set, Grabher saved five of the six break points she faced. In the decider, Grabher kept up the ante she’d built for herself towards the end of the second set and broke Bronzetti to go up 3-1 in the set. However, this time it was Bronzetti’s turn to make a comeback and as in the second set, she got another chance to serve it out in the 10th game.
But as before she was broken again. A break back of Grabher’s serve in the 11th game gave the Italian a third chance at having it all and this time, she made no mistakes and successfully saw the match through in her favour.
Rabat Grand Prix: Lucia Bronzetti's hard work pays off
Bronzetti finished the match with 112 points, five points more than her opponent’s 107. In winning in the Moroccan city, Bronzetti ensured that an Italian emerged as the champion for the second consecutive time.
In 2022, Martina Trevisan won the title. The Italian, whose good run in Rabat helped her make her way into the French Open quarter-finals later that year, was forced to quit her quarter-final partway with an injury in this edition of the event.
Meanwhile, the Rabat Grand Prix’s the first event Lucia Bronzetti’s won in her career. It was, however, the second time she’d made her way into a WTA final. Photo Credit: WTA Twitter