By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 24, 2022
The Romanian captured her first title since 2017 by defeating Lucia Bronzetti.
Photo Source: Tennis Channel
There will be no first-time winners on the WTA this week, but for Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, it probably feels like the first time.
The 31-year-old Bucharest native captured her first title in five years on Sunday in Palermo, defeating first-time finalist Lucia Bronzetti, 6-2, 6-2.
Bronzetti was on home soil, but Begu enjoyed the Sicilian capital as well.
“For me Palermo is a really special place,” said Begu after the final, “because I have a part of the family here.”
Begu, a former World No.22 needed just one hour and 32 minutes to complete her conquest of the 23-year-old World No.78. She dominated Bronzetti’s second serve, winning 11 of 14 second-serve return points and breaking six times on 12 opportunities.
Begu hit 24 winners against 20 unforced errors, while Bronzetti only managed 11 winners against 29 unforced.
Begu had to make a quick recovery to rise to the title, after finishing a three hour and 12-minute semifinal victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo at 1:40 AM on Saturday.
Begu, currently ranked 45, improves to 21-12 on the season and 11-4 on clay, while Bronzetti drops to 12-12 and 7-5 on clay.
Anna Bondar and Kimberley Zimmerman defeated Amina Anshba and Panna Udvardy, 6-3, 6-2, to take the doubles title in Palermo.