Strong Start

Grabher storms into the second round

Julia Grabher(Bild: GEPA)

Julia Grabher has advanced to the second round of the French Open, just as she did in 2023. The Vorarlberg native delivered a consistently strong performance against Rebecca Sramkova, cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 victory in just 1 hour and 11 minutes. “I’m already feeling a bit relieved,” she said happily after the decisive win. In the next round, she will face top-10 player Amanda Anisimova.

Head coach Günter Bresnik also made a last-minute trip to the tournament so he wouldn’t miss his protégé Julia Grabher’s match, which he watched alongside her brother Alexander. The Vorarlberg native came out firing on Court 4, taking a 4-0 lead against Rebecca Sramkova in just under 20 minutes, thanks in no small part to her powerful forehand.

Here are the match stats:

After that, the Slovakian stepped up her game, scoring repeatedly after some beautiful rallies. But Grabher remained composed, continuing to play her game unfazed. After a particularly beautiful forehand winner, even the usually reserved Bresnik applauded enthusiastically, shortly before she took the first set 6-2.

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Now a match against Anisimova
The second set followed the same pattern, with Grabher again securing a solid 6-2 victory. This means Grabher, just as in her 2023 debut, advances to the second round of the French Open, where she will face Amanda Anisimova. The world No. 6 defeated Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-3, 6-1. 

“I’m glad I saved some energy in this heat,” Grabher said with relief. She is also glad that Bresnik decided at the last minute to make the trip to Paris. “It’s very valuable that he’s here. He has nothing but a positive influence.”