On July 17, 2025, Switzerland’s Simona Waltert (WTA 127) staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Spain’s Irene Burillo Escorihuela (WTA 251) 6-4, 7-6(2) in the second round of the UniCredit Iasi Open, a WTA 250 clay-court tournament in Iasi, Romania. The victory, which lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes, marked Waltert’s second career WTA quarterfinal and her first since Lausanne 2022, setting up an all-Swiss clash with Jil Teichmann in the next round.
Match Recap
Waltert faced a tough battle against Burillo, trailing 5-2 with a double-break deficit in the second set and fending off two set points at 6-5 on Burillo’s serve. Despite being down 0-2 in the tiebreak, she won seven straight points to seal the match, converting 50% of her break points (7/14) and scoring 87 points to Burillo’s 78. The first set saw Waltert recover from an early break to win 6-4, capitalizing on a key break at 4-4. Her resilience and aggressive play, with 26 winners, overcame Burillo’s 120 winners across her tournament run and two prior head-to-head victories.
Context and Performance
Waltert, coached by former Swiss Davis Cup player Stéphane Bohli, entered Iasi with a 30-16 record in 2025, including a final at the Aix-en-Provence Challenger. Her straight-sets win over Anastasija Sevastova (6-3, 6-3) in the first round showcased her clay-court prowess, with a 74% first-serve win rate. Against Burillo, she saved 33.3% of break points faced (3/9) and maintained composure despite five breaks against her. This win levels their head-to-head at 2-2, reversing Burillo’s 2022 Le Havre victory (2-6, 7-6(10), 6-2).
Quarterfinal Outlook
Waltert now faces No. 6 seed Jil Teichmann (WTA 102) on July 18 at 10:30 PM local time on Center Court. Teichmann, who defeated Maja Chwalinska in straight sets, leads their head-to-head 2-1, including a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4) win in Zagreb 2025. Predictive models favor Teichmann in three sets due to her clay-court experience, but Waltert’s momentum and home-country support could make it competitive. The winner secures a semifinal spot, guaranteeing a Swiss player in the final four.
Sentiment and Impact
Fans and analysts celebrated Waltert’s grit, with posts on X praising her tiebreak dominance and comeback spirit. Her performance adds €2,301 to her prize money, bringing her Iasi total to €5,925, with a potential €10,410 if she advances further. This run boosts her chances of re-entering the Top 100, following a career-high of No. 107 in 2023.
How to Watch
- TV: Tennis Channel (USA), Sky Sports (UK), TSN (Canada)
- Streaming: WTA TV, bet365 (with funded account), Tennis Channel, TSN+
- Live Scores: WTA app, Sofascore, Xscores
