Solana Sierra and Darja Semenistaja emerged as champions at this week`s WTA 125 clay-court events.
The WTA 125 series in Antalya, Turkey, concluded with Argentina`s Solana Sierra defeating Spain`s Leyre Romero Gormaz (6-3, 6-4) to clinch the Megasaray Hotels Open #3 title.
Previously, Anca Todoni and Olga Danilovic had won the first two Megasaray Hotels Opens this year. This week, Sierra, seeded No. 8, joined the ranks of Antalya champions.
Sierra, aged 20, showed consistent improvement throughout the week. After navigating three-set matches in her initial two rounds, she dominated her semifinal and then defeated Romero Gormaz in a 97-minute final to secure her first WTA 125 title.
As a former junior Roland Garros finalist in 2022, this significant professional victory will propel Sierra from No. 152 to a career-high No. 119 in the upcoming rankings.
In doubles at Antalya #3, Anna Bondar and Simona Waltert defeated Alicia Barnett and Elixane Lechemia (7-5, 2-6, [10-6]) in the final. Waltert had also won the Antalya #2 doubles title the previous week with Maria Lourdes Carle.
At the Open Internacional Femeni Solgirones, Latvia`s Darja Semenistaja defeated Dalma Galfi of Hungary (5-7, 6-0, 6-4) to claim the WTA 125 singles title in La Bisbal d`Emporda, Spain.
Semenistaja spent just over two hours overcoming Galfi to win her second WTA 125 title, her first on clay. Her previous WTA 125 title was on hard courts in Mumbai, India, last year.
Unlike Sierra in Antalya, Semenistaja faced three-set matches in her last three matches this week. Her resilient performances will boost her ranking from No. 165 to No. 131 on Monday.
Semenistaja also reached the doubles final in La Bisbal, but she and Nina Stojanovic were defeated by No. 1 seeds Magali Kempen and Anna Siskova (7-6(1), 6-1).
Anna Siskova successfully defended her La Bisbal doubles title, having won the event last year with Miriam Kolodziejova.
Rupert Caldwell