Tennis News:

Rabat; Strasbourg; Geneva; Hamburg

Written by Edda Bevilacqua

Petra Marcinko Wins Rabat Title

Petra Marcinko of Croatia defeated Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-2, 3-0 after Kalinina was forced to retire due to injury. The Rabat title is the first of Marcinko’s career. She captured the first set quickly, then took a 3-0 lead in the second set before Kalinina was forced to retire with a blister on her foot. 

Marcinko defeated Vera Zvonareva, Yelezaveta Kotliar, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Jill Teichmann on the way to the final before defeating Kalinina for the title. Following her win in Rabat, Morocco, Marcinko rises to number 51 in the world. She will play her first main draw match at the French Open, where she takes on Germany’s Eva Lys in the first round.

Emma Navarro Wins Strasbourg Title

Emma Navarro of the United States defeated Canada’s Victoria Mboko in three sets, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 to win the title in Strasbourg, France. Navarro dominated the first set 6-0. Mboko came back to win the second set, but Navarro captured the deciding set to win the title. Navarro said of her victory: “It’s kind of been a little bit of a rocky year and a half or so, but I think we put in a lot of really good work.” After missing out on the title in her home tournament in Charleston earlier this year, Emma Navarro captured her first career clay-court title in Strasbourg.

American Learner Tien Captures Second Career Title in Geneva

Twenty-year-old American Learner Tien won his second career title, and his first on clay, defeating Mariano Navone of Argentina in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Tien came back from a set down to win the title in 2 hours, 28 minutes. His win gives him much-needed confidence ahead of the French Open and he will be number 18 in the world when the tournament begins.

Peruvian Ignacio Buse Wins Hamburg

Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse defeated Tommy Paul of the United States, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 to become the first Peruvian to win a tournament since Luis Horna won at Vina del Mar in 2007. It is Buse’s first win on the main tour. Buse said,

“I have given effort for my whole life. It’s fully emotional for my family. I feel extremely happy. I’m really proud of Peru. It’s the best country in the world, so I’m just so emotional now.”

With his win in Hamburg, Buse rises to number 31 in the world.