Cocciaretto claims second ITF title on return from injury

Elisabetta Cocciaretto continued her impressive comeback from injury with her second title in as many months on the ITF World Tennis Tour at W60 Grado on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Italian, who was hitting balls from a chair last November during rehab from knee surgery, followed her biggest career triumph yet at W80 Oerias in April with her third title at W60 level – defeating Switzerland’s Ylena In-Albon 6-2 6-2 for the sixth ITF singles crown of her career.

The triumph marks another positive step forward for the former junior world No. 12, who was on the brink of the WTA’s Top 100 last year before injury struck.

Cocciaretto entered Roland Garros qualifying but fell to Oksana Selekhmeteva in the second round.

The current world No. 157 was joined in winning a W60 title over the weekend by American Robin Anderson, who defeated Sachia Vickery 6-7 6-4 in the final at W60 Orlando.

The 29-year-old American’s triumph was her fourth ITF World Tennis Tour title and her first above W25 level, and will likely see her surpass her career-high ranking of No. 159 in the next ranking update after Roland Garros.

Elsewhere, 17-year-old Lola Radivojevic continued her good form in Greece, following up on her maiden ITF singles crown at W15 Heraklion last week with an immediate second triumph at the same venue without dropping a set in any of her five matches.

The Serb, who defeated Dimitra Pavlou 6-3 6-1 in the final, took part in both events as a junior reserved entrant.

There were five first-time women's titlists over the weekend, with Anna Brogan (GBR), Aneta Kucmova (CZE), Lexie Stevens (NED), Nahia Berecoechea (FRA) and Silvia Ambrosio (GER) all claiming milestone maiden ITF singles titles.

Catch up on all of the weekend's results on the ITF World Tennis Tour here