WTA Linz: Julia Grabher gets first wildcard
The first wildcard that tournament director Sandra Reichel awards for the Upper Austrian Ladies Linz 2021 goes to an Austrian! The 25-year-old Julia Grabher from Vorarlberg will be able to enjoy the coveted “free ticket” for the main competition at the second oldest indoor women's tournament in the world, which will take place from November 6th to 12th in the Tips Arena in Linz!
by PM
last edit: Sep 24, 2021, 02:21 pm
Julia Grabher's first reaction was: “Oh, it’s a huge pleasure for me that Sandra has given me a wildcard for the main competition! I've always enjoyed playing in Linz, and in front of a home crowd you're even more motivated. This year, of course, very special. "Tournament director Sandra Reichel found words of praise for Grabher:" Julia's development is moving forward - I watch that with pleasure! Last time she had bad luck with an injury at our tournament when she had to give up after a furious start to the match. ”Grabher sustained an ankle injury when she was in the lead with 3: 2 and a break against the favored Romania Sorana Cirstea. The Vorarlbergerin is in the current WTA ranking as number 195, the second best ÖTV player after Barbara Haas (173), who is currently having to take a longer break due to a wrist injury.
Julia Grabher experienced her season highlight of 2021 in spring: The ÖTV top player won the title at the ITF clay court tournament in Bellinzona in Ticino, endowed with 60,000 US dollars, with a 6: 2 and 6: 3 final triumph against the Italian Lucia Bronzetti and thus secured her greatest success to date on the ITF tour.
Grabher struggled a little with her appearance at the French Open, because she only missed the main competition of the Grand Slam tournament by a very thin margin. The red-white-red duel between Julia Grabher and Barbara Haas was explosive in the first round of qualifying for the US Open. The Vorarlbergerin defeated the Upper Austrian after 90 minutes with 6: 2, 7: 5. For the two Austrians of the same age, it was the eighth meeting at the highest level, the second in 2021. Haas was ahead five times, and Grabher has achieved three victories so far. In the second round, Grabher was unfortunately eliminated against number one seeded Croatian Ana Konjuh.
Conclusion by Julia Grabher: "I still lack consistency, I want to improve that in the future." You can trust the ambitious Vorarlberg woman!