In Limoges, Zurich’s Viktorija Golubic (32) won the final of the WTA 125 tournament by beating her young compatriot Céline Naef (19) in straight sets (7-5 6-4). This victory allows Golubic to finish the season in the top 100, in 90th place, and thus ensure his direct entry into the main draw of the Australian Open in mid-January. She also consolidates her position as Swiss number one, but this depends in the medium term on the state of form of Belinda Bencic, who has made a convincing return to competition (finalist in Angers at the beginning of December in another WTA 125 tournament) after a thirteen-month maternity break.
In a tight final, Viktorija Golubic made her experience speak for itself. Céline Naef led 2-0 from the start, but then was unable to convert any of the eight other break points she obtained during the game. A little more efficient (three breaks on nine opportunities), Golubic was able to compensate for his deficit in serving power.
This 100% Swiss final, in an admittedly second category tournament, brings a note of hope at the end of a generally gloomy season for Swiss tennis. Only Viktorija Golubic has won a WTA 250 title on the main women’s or men’s circuit (ATP). She is the only one to appear in the top 100. In withdrawal (Stan Wawrinka, Jil Teichmann, Marc-Andrea Hüsler), in recovery (Bencic, Dominic Stricker), a little limited (Alexander Ritschard) or too often injured (Jérôme Kym, Leandro Riedi), the others are between 100th and 200th place in the world, a zone of discomfort characterized by both intense competition and very little guarantees.
It is in this second division that Ritschard won three titles this season, Kym and Riedi two, Hüsler one. On the women’s side, Teichmann won a WTA 125, where Ylena In-Albon played a first final (in Florianopolis), like Céline Naef on Sunday in Limoges. Everyone therefore has reason to rejoice in 2025.
