Marina Bassols Ribera secured her second WTA 125 title of 2023 at the Creand Andorra Open, defeating Erika Andreeva 7-5, 7-6(3) in a tightly contested final that lasted 2.5 hours.
Ranked 145th, Bassols Ribera’s success at this level has been a highlight of her season, reaching the Valencia final in June and capturing her first career WTA 125 trophy in Ljubljana in September, both on clay. Her title run in Andorra featured impressive wins over former Top 20 players, including wild card Anastasija Sevastova and Alizé Cornet.
Bassols Ribera attributes her success to her improved mentality on the court. She expressed, “[My biggest improvement] was my mentality inside the court… I got a lot of confidence [from defeating Sevastova and Cornet]. Long matches, too, I’m super tired now.”
The 23-year-old Spaniard demonstrated her prowess in offense and defense in the final, showcasing a remarkable ability to take control of the match despite the strong resistance from Andreeva.
In another noteworthy comeback, former World No.11 Sevastova made a strong return following her maternity leave, showing that her renowned drop shot was as lethal as ever in a pair of tenacious comeback victories.
The doubles title went to the youthful pairing of Andreeva and Naef, with the teens securing their maiden WTA 125 trophy in an impressive fashion.
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
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