Grabher satisfied despite unnecessary defeat: “The balance sheet is still impressive”

CHARLESTON. It was a tennis match of missed opportunities: Julia Grabher’s run of success at the WTA 500 clay court tournament in Charleston ended in the round of 16. The 26-year-old had in the first set against the world number 17. Ekaterina Alexandrowa from Russia already led 4:1, but in the end Grabher clearly lost 4:6, 2:6. “Every defeat hurts. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to repeat my previous performances, so I’m disappointed”said the woman from Vorarlberg, who had only used two of her seven break opportunities. “The balance sheet is still impressive”added Austria’s number one, who will improve from 89th to 78th place in the world rankings.

Grabher remains in North America, now relocating to Delray Beach where the Red-White-Red team will face none other than Record winner USA (with the top ten aces Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff) will meet.

“It’s an attractive lot, but certainly not the ideal option. Our wish would have been Germany”, said ÖTV team captain Marion Maruska, who was active in Charlotte herself in 2002. At that time, Austria sensationally won 3:2.

Kraus struggled with their service

Sinja Kraus also belongs to the ÖTV squad. For the UTC Fischer Ried athlete, Bogota was also the last stop in the round of 16. The 20-year-old army athlete was beaten 2:6, 2:6 by the Italian Nuria Brancaccio, who is 38 positions behind Kraus in the WTA ranking. The Viennese struggled with her service, only 44 percent of her first serves landed in the field, but the top 150 are still within reach. That spurs you on.