NEWS
Grabher into Kitzbühel second round after break-fest
Both players struggled with their serves – in the end, the experienced ÖTV player prevailed in the first Kitzbühel round.
Julia Grabher reaches the round of 16 at the WTA-125 tournament in Kitzbühel.
The 30-year-old defeats Elena Ruxandra Bertea in three sets with 6:3, 5:7 and 6:4. The first-round match for the Vorarlberg native turned into a true break-fest.
Grabher secured an early break in the first set for a 2:1 lead and later added another for 5:2. The Romanian immediately managed a re-break, but the ÖTV player promptly broke her opponent's serve to clinch the set.
Bertea Levels the Match
In the second set, both players truly struggled with their serve: Bertea finally held her serve in the fourth game to take a 3:1 lead, but Grabher soon leveled the score at 3:3.
The Austrian immediately dropped her serve again, but was able to avert a looming set loss at 4:5 to Bertea with a break.
The Romanian managed another re-break and then served out for the set, leveling the match.
Possible All-ÖTV Clash in Round of 16
In the decisive set, both players continued to struggle with their serves: Grabher conceded a break in her second service game but again managed a hard-fought re-break. After the Vorarlberg native held her serve, she pulled away to a 4:2 lead with another break.
At 5:3, the ÖTV player had the chance to serve out for the match, but Bertea came back with a break. Symbolically for this encounter, Grabher ultimately sealed the victory with a re-break.
In the round of 16, there could be an all-ÖTV clash against Ekaterina Perelygina, if the 19-year-old wins her first-round match against Yasmine Kabbaj (MAR).
