For the first time at the Transylvania Open, Patricia Țig secures a comforting, hard-fought victory against Martha Mataoula, a player ranked 327th in the WTA, who came through the qualifiers. Patricia triumphed 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 after a complicated match that lasted for over three hours, during which she found herself pushed to a deciding set, despite leading 6-4, 5-2, and even holding three match points.
It was a tough and balanced match, at times spectacular, against a formidable opponent who was difficult to get off the court, already accustomed to the playing conditions after two qualifying wins.
Having returned to the circuit in January after a year and a half break, Patricia is participating in only her fourth WTA tournament of the year, following Hobart, Prague, and Cleveland, where she was eliminated in the first round on all three occasions. This time in Cluj, Patricia achieved her first WTA tournament victory since June 2021 (Bad Homburg).
“It was very exhausting, obviously, but I am very happy that I could win the match. It was amazing to play at home in front of all those who came to support me; I am very happy now,” said Patricia after the match.
Currently, Patricia is ranked outside the top 400 in the WTA, but her current ranking of 462 does not remotely reflect her true abilities, as demonstrated by her performance today. Her performance was reminiscent of her prime days in many aspects of the game, especially until 5-2 in the second set. Patricia threw her best shots at Mataoula: lightning-fast forehand shots, drop shots, spins, angles, different trajectories, direct winning returns, and clever slices intended to stop the opponent’s momentum. Mataoula, in essence, is an aggressive and courageous player who enjoys attacking but is also capable, in many moments, of counterattacking and winning points through defense.
In the first set, Patricia made a delightful comeback, turning it around from 1-4 to 6-4.
The second set had a similar unfolding but with a twist. Initially, it appeared to be a set firmly under Patricia’s control as she quickly went up 5-2 and even had three match points. From this point, the Greek player gradually made her way back, step by step, game by game, taking the second set to a tiebreak. A tiebreak that Mataoula managed a bit more lucidly and patiently – and that ultimately made the difference.
As they entered the deciding set, the match between the two became a neck-and-neck battle. Mataoula was the more confident player, especially after her comeback, while Patricia made significant efforts to remain focused on her game. The balance was almost constant, and it seemed for a long time that they couldn’t be separated: Patricia would break, Martha would come back and level the score, Patricia would hit a spectacular winner that seemed to change the course of the match, and Martha would respond with a brilliant drop shot.
In the end, Patricia’s experience and determination prevailed. Without playing her best tennis, she found her way in this complicated deciding set and won the crucial points when necessary, leading to an important and much-needed victory.
When asked where she believes the difference was made, Pati attributed the victory to her superior experience. “Plus, I think I was the slightly better player today. I am very happy to be able to play in front of my home crowd again, and I hope to perform better. I can’t wait for the next match!” Patricia concluded.
Today’s victory by Patricia holds particular significance because, above all, it’s a breath of fresh air coming at the right moment after a challenging and sensitive period.
Patricia is in the process of a comeback and is capable of achieving great things. The victory obtained today in Cluj could mark the beginning of a remarkable resurgence, similar to the one in 2019.
To reach the quarter-finals, Patricia Țig will need to defeat Ekaterina Makarova, who eliminated Kateryna Baindl, the 7th seed of the tournament, in three sets today.
