SAO PAULO/STARNBERG, October 8, 2024
Laura Pigossi wrapped up a perfect week in Sao Paulo on Sunday, claiming the trophy at the Engie Open, an ITF World Tennis Tour W75 tournament held at Paineiras do Morumbi. Brazil’s number two player rallied past Italy’s Beatrice Ricci 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3.
Despite losing the first set tiebreak 7-3, Pigossi remained focused. In the second set, after a series of breaks, she made a comeback by winning four consecutive games, closing the set out at 6-3. The third set was an even affair, but Laura, was solid in her returns as well as with her serves and took a 5-3 lead. With the support of the crowd, the 30-year-old Brazilian sealed victory, capturing the second-largest title of her career after her triumph at the WTA 125 tournament in Buenos Aires in 2023.
With this title, Pigossi earned 75 WTA Ranking points and prize money of $9,142, advancing her goal of returning to the top 100. After her victory, Pigossi reflected on a junior tournament she had won at the age of 12 at Paineiras and shared an inspiring message: “I dedicate this title to each of you (the fans), who helped me so much this week. I want to say something very important: 18 years ago, I won a tournament here, and today, after an Olympic medal and two Pan American titles, I am lifting a trophy again. Never give up on your dreams. If you dedicate yourself fully, I’m sure that, whether in tennis or elsewhere, you can achieve anything you want. No dream is too big.”
The World No. 128 claimed her 10th career title on the ITF Pro Circuit, the second of the season after Pretoria in March. “I love playing here and for Brazil because I play for something bigger, not just for myself. Today, I felt very tired, but with the crowd’s support, I knew I could overcome it. I managed to stay focused and win the tournament,” Pigossi said.
This week, Pigossi returns to Barcelona, where she resides, to compete in two tournaments in Spain before heading back to South America for the final events of the season, including one in Argentina, where she will defend her title, and the Billie Jean King Cup in Sao Paulo.
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