Grabher Completes Dream Final in Kitzbühel

The dream final at the WTA 125 Challenger in Kitzbühel is complete.

Julia Grabher comfortably prevailed on Saturday in the semifinals against top-seeded Slovenian Veronika Erjavec (WTA-99.) with a score of 6:1, 6:4.

In the final, her compatriot Sinja Kraus is already waiting, having previously defeated Marina Bassols Ribera in three sets (for the match report >>>).

Grabher Dominates After Rain Delay

The match was interrupted after just a few minutes due to rain for about half an hour. Afterwards, Grabher found her rhythm much better.

The Vorarlberg native remained unassailable on her own serve, not allowing a single break point in the entire first set, and broke Erjavec's serve twice. With a clear 6:1, the tournament's fourth seed secured the first set.

Grabher also maintained control in the second set. After a contested start, she managed the break to go up 2:1, before fending off a break point in the following game and extending her lead to 3:1.

Subsequently, the 30-year-old served out her games confidently and secured her place in the final with a 6:4. Her kick serves, in particular, caused Erjavec significant problems throughout the match.

Austrian Final for the Title

Thus, on Sunday (11:30), an Austrian duel will take place between Grabher (WTA-112.) and the second-seeded Sinja Kraus (WTA-87.).

For the first time since the return of a women's tournament to Kitzbühel, it is already certain before the final that an Austrian will win the title.

In their head-to-head, it's 1:1 between the two. Grabher won in 2025 at the Challenger in Rio de Janeiro, while Kraus took revenge this year in Auckland. The day before yesterday, the two were still on court together in Kitzbühel for doubles.

For Grabher, it's about her third Challenger title and her first tournament victory since October 2025. Kraus is aiming for her second title at this level after her triumph in Cali at the end of 2025.