WTA Washington: Cocciaretto battles past Tauson in three-hour marathon

Elisabetta Cocciaretto defeated Clara Tauson after more than three hours of battle in the first round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, a WTA 500 event on the hard courts of Washington. The world number 71 from Italy came from behind to beat the world number 30 from Denmark 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(2) in a match full of momentum swings.

Cocciaretto lost serve at the start of both the first and second sets, missed two set points in the second, and failed to close out when serving for the match in the third. But in both tie-breaks she found another gear, conceding just four points total to Tauson.

In the first set, Tauson broke immediately and that proved the only break of the set, closing 6-4. In the second, Cocciaretto fell behind again but found the break back for 3-3. After missing two set points, she dominated the tie-break, winning seven consecutive points for 7-2.

In the decider, Cocciaretto built a 3-1 and 4-2 lead, but dropped serve to love in the eighth game. She broke back immediately, then surrendered serve again when serving for the match at 5-4. In the decisive tie-break, she seized control, racing to 6-1 and closing 7-2.

In the second round, Cocciaretto will face the winner of the all-American clash between Emma Navarro and Sofia Kenin.

Sources

• Ubitennis — "WTA Washington: Cocciaretto non molla mai, Tauson battuta dopo oltre tre ore"