In a remarkable turn of events, Elisabetta Cocciaretto has etched her name in the history books by becoming the fourth qualifier to triumph at the Hobart International, securing her second WTA Tour singles title. This victory comes after she outplayed third-seeded Iva Jovic in a straight-set match, marking a significant moment for Italian tennis as it also prevents the U.S. from achieving a fourth consecutive championship in this tournament.
Reflecting on her journey, just two years ago, Cocciaretto was on the verge of claiming the Hobart title but fell short against American player Lauren Davis in the finals. Fast forward to Saturday, she successfully completed her quest, winning decisively with a score of 6-4, 6-4 against Jovic, showcasing her growth and resilience.
Cocciaretto's win is particularly noteworthy as she joins the ranks of only three previous qualifiers who have won this prestigious event: Mona Barthel in 2012, Garbiñe Muguruza in 2014, and Davis herself. Additionally, she becomes the second Italian winner of the tournament since Rita Grande's victory nearly 25 years ago, further highlighting her achievement in denying the Americans a continuous winning streak.
At the age of 24, Cocciaretto’s first WTA singles trophy was obtained in Lausanne, Switzerland, two summers prior, where she entered as the No. 2 seed. Contrastingly, her recent success in Hobart came with her ranked No. 80 in the PIF WTA Rankings. Remarkably, she fought through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw and gained momentum after a thrilling comeback against No. 4 seed Ann Li, overcoming a 6-1, 5-3 deficit in the second round. From that point forward, she demonstrated exceptional form, not conceding more than four games in any set throughout the remainder of her matches.
In another exciting development, Janice Tjen and Katarzyna Piter celebrated their own success by claiming their second WTA doubles title together. They achieved this with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over competitors Magali Kempen and Anna Siskova. Earlier in October, the duo had also secured a doubles title in Guangzhou, further solidifying their partnership.
This latest win marks Tjen's third career doubles title, all of which have been within the WTA 250 events category. Meanwhile, Piter has now accumulated six doubles titles since her career began in 2013, including a notable 500-level title earned alongside Mayar Sherif in Merida last March.
