Grant Wins the Derby: Comeback Over Pigato at the Foro Italico

Tyra Grant defeated Lisa Pigato 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in just over two hours, claiming her first win at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in the first-round derby played on day 2 of the tournament, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Eighteen years old as of March, a Roman, ranked No. 234 in the WTA, Grant entered the main draw with a wild card, just like her opponent. There were no previous meetings between the two: it was the first encounter of their careers. Pigato, twenty-two, came into the match ranked No. 141 in the world and with a season that has already produced over 25 wins and five finals, the most recent lost in Chiasso to Timofeeva.

The first set slipped away quickly: Pigato took it 6-1, closing out the opener without giving up any ground. From that point on, however, it was a different match. Grant raised her intensity in the second set and pushed the contest to a third, where she managed the key moments through to the closing 6-4.

For the Roman player it confirms a period of growth. In Madrid, two weeks ago, she had earned her first WTA main-draw win by beating Elsa Jacquemot 6-1 6-2. Now Canadian Victoria Mboko, the No. 10 seed, awaits her in the second round.