Italy’s Alberta Brianti captured her first career WTA title after beating last year’s finalist Simona Halep 64 63 at the Grand Prix de SAR la Princesse Lalla Meryem in Fès, Morocco.
Brianti was unseeded at this claycourt event and at 31, was also one of the oldest participants at this tournament. In the final, she led 5-2 against Halep before the match was halted due to rain. When the match resumed, Halep staged a minor comeback to narrow her opponent’s lead to 5-4 but Brianti regrouped to clinch the first set and eventually the whole match win.
“It was a very tough match. Simona is a talented player,” Brianti said.
“We had to stop for the rain but I was able to keep concentrating and win. I was playing good tennis all week, including today. I’m very happy to win my first title,” she added.
In doubles, Renata Voracova and Andrea Hlacvackova of the Czech Republic beat Sandra Klemenschits and Nina Bratchikova to win their first WTA title as a team.
