International, Tyra Grant loses against the Croatian Ruzic 6-3 3-6 7-5

Brava the same, Tyra Grant. The 17 -year -old, n.335 in the world, was not intimidated by the triple debut – to the international, on the central and with the flag of Italy – and fought on par against the 22 -year -old Croatian Antonia Ruzic, n. 117, giving in only to the twelfth game of the third set, after having had two matches points: 6-3 3-6 7-5 the score in favor of the opponent. It was only the second appearance for her in a main scoreboard of the major professional tour, and directly in a WTA 1000, after losing their debut in March in Miami, where she had enjoyed a Wild Card as here in Rome. World number 4 at the junior level, with three double titles in the Slam, Grant has accumulated points and good placements at the ITF level, that is the minor circuit. Born in Rome, to the Italian mother and the American dad (the former basketball player Tyrone), Tyra represented the United States until a few days ago. The documents of the change of sporting nationality have reached time for Rome. “I feel much more Italian than American,” he said on the eve of the match.

the game

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Grant starts immediately strong by snatching the opponent’s service, but does not use the advantage. We clearly perceive the power of its accelerations of law, as well as the difficulty – given the age and inexperience – to read all the situations of the match well and give continuity to its tennis. Ruzic makes her move and surprises her several times with the short balls, making up for the least incisiveness in exchanges. Because Tyra, when he manages to command remaining lucid, turns at a clearly higher speed. And he is not afraid, for example, to attack the game on the break ball that carries it forward 3-2. On 4-3 and service is reassembled, betrayed a little by emotion. The audience encourages her, she cancels the 4-4 ball with a slap on the fly: courage and trust push her on 6-3. The empty passages are not lacking, it is physiological that it is so. Ruzic, already beaten by the blue this year in the W75 of Porto in three sets, redeems and conquers the second set (6-3). The youngest seems to be disunited, but that’s not the case. In the third set it shows an enviable athletic estate and reacts great. Grant makes the break and suffers it, then keeps the service and is 3-1. Very hard game, Ruzic does not give up. On 3-2 30-30, the Italian emerges with authority and goes on 4-2. Then he saves a break ball by commanding the exchange and is 5-3. On the wings of enthusiasm, Tyra pushes, induces the Croatian to error, takes 15-40 in response. Two Match Points. Canceled. It is 5-4. Tyra serves for the match, goes below 0-30, recovers, but then it undergoes the counterbreak: 5-5. Here he melts. Errors on errors, alternating with some winning blows, and is 7-5 for Ruzic.