Begu Triumphs on Home Soil in Iasi
Romanian Star Ends Three-Year Title Drought
After a three-year hiatus from the winner’s circle, Irina-Camelia Begu has once again lifted a singles trophy, achieving the feat on her home turf at the UniCredit Iasi Open.
Dominant Performance in the Final
The seventh-seeded Romanian secured her sixth career Hologic WTA Tour singles title by defeating Switzerland’s **Jil Teichmann**, the sixth seed, with a convincing score of 6-0, 7-5. The match lasted just 1 hour and 33 minutes, marking **Begu**’s fourth victory in five encounters against **Teichmann**.
This triumph comes nearly three years after **Begu**’s last final appearance and victory at the 2022 Palermo Open. Her six WTA singles titles include three on her preferred clay surface, and this marks her second WTA singles crown won in Romania, following her 2017 victory in Bucharest.
Comeback Trails for Both Players
Both finalists have previously reached the Top 25 of the PIF WTA Rankings, with **Teichmann** peaking at No. 21 and **Begu** at No. 22, though both are currently ranked outside the Top 100. For **Teichmann**, this was a significant comeback, reaching her first final since August 2021 at WTA 1000 Cincinnati.
**Begu** showcased exceptional strength in the opening set, clinching it in a swift 29 minutes. Although **Teichmann** mounted a challenge in the second set, breaking **Begu** to go up 4-2, the Romanian immediately broke back. Another break at love gave **Begu** a 6-5 advantage, and she closed out the emotional home-court victory with a powerful, unreturned overhead shot.
The Iasi Open singles title is a significant moment for **Begu**, who has faced injuries in recent seasons. Her return to winning ways highlights her resilience in the sport.
Doubles Crown Awarded
Earlier on Sunday, the doubles title was claimed by **Veronika Erjavec** and **Panna Udvardy**. The unseeded duo defeated **Maria Lourdes Carle** and **Simona Waltert** in the final, 7-5, 6-3.
Notably, **Udvardy**, **Carle**, and **Waltert** were all singles quarterfinalists this week, showcasing a strong overall performance.
