ZAGREB/STARNBERG, May 18, 2025
Croatian Tara Wuerth (WTA No. 263) captured the 2025 Zagreb Open title, a prestigious ITF World Tennis Tour W75 tournament, with a hard-fought victory in Saturday’s final. The 22-year-old Zagreb native defeated Spain’s Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (WTA No. 210) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, securing the sixth singles title of her career on the Pro Circuit.
With a wide smile on her face and the trophy in her hands, Wuerth joked: “It’s a shame Grand Slam tournaments aren’t held in Zagreb. I think Branko (tournament director Branimir Horvat) should organize the fifth Grand Slam here — I’d have a good chance!”
Wuerth added this title to her win at last year’s Zagreb Ladies Open, another ITF World Tennis Tour W75 event played at TC Maksimir. Asked to choose between the two, she admitted it was a tough decision.
“I love both titles. The atmosphere today was amazing, and the presence of TV made everything feel more official. Maksimir is kind of ‘mine’ because I live nearby, but this place (Salata) is close too. Maybe this one is a little more special — the trophy is bigger,” she said with a laugh.
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The final had everything tennis fans could wish for: top-level play, full stands, momentum swings, and even a rain delay — not to mention a crucial croissant that may have helped turn the tide.
Wuerth was in control early, leading by a set and 3-0, with a break point for 4-0. But Maristany responded strongly, taking the second set 6-4 and shifting the match’s momentum. At the start of the third, both players exchanged breaks before Wuerth went up 3-2 and reached 0-30 on her opponent’s serve — only for a sudden downpour to halt play for 40 minutes.
“That break helped me. I went to the locker room, changed clothes, and tried to calm down. I hadn’t eaten properly, and I was running out of energy, especially in the second set. My fitness coach recommended a croissant — light and full of carbs — and it really gave me a boost,” Wuerth explained.
After the rain delay, Wuerth returned composed and focused. She won key points to go up 4-2, held serve for 5-2, and closed out the match at 5-3 to seal a memorable victory.
With the win, she fulfilled her promise made after reaching the semifinals and maintained her perfect record in finals played on home soil. In addition to her Zagreb successes, she also lifted a title in Split in 2023.
