WTA 125 Roundup: Minnen, Todoni, Bejlek Claim Titles in Birmingham and Bari

In a vibrant display of talent on June 9, 2025, the WTA 125 circuit crowned three champions across different surfaces, marking a significant moment in the women's tennis landscape. Greet Minnen of Belgium triumphed on the grass courts of Birmingham, while Romanian Anca Todoni and Czech Sara Bejlek excelled on clay in Bari and Makarska, respectively.

The day began in Birmingham, where the Lexus Birmingham Open saw the No. 5 seed, Greet Minnen, face an arduous path to victory. After her semifinal match against Rebeka Masarova was interrupted, Minnen returned on Sunday to secure a dramatic win, finishing the match 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5). This victory was marked by her resilience as she saved a match point during the second-set tiebreak. In the final, Minnen faced Linda Fruhvirtova, where she demonstrated her dominance by winning decisively 6-2, 6-1 in just 63 minutes. This win marks Minnen's first WTA 125 singles title out of three finals, propelling her ranking from No. 77 to No. 66 in the PIF WTA Singles Rankings. "It's been a wonderful moment, you know," Minnen stated during her trophy acceptance. "It hasn't been easy the last few years; I didn't play a lot of finals. To be here, to win a final on the grass, it's the best I could hope for, honestly," she added.

Meanwhile, in Bari, Italy, Anca Todoni, the No. 4 seed, successfully defended her title at the Open delle Puglie. Todoni faced a fierce competitor in No. 3 seed Anna Bondar of Hungary, ultimately winning 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 after a grueling 2 hours and 55 minutes. Todoni, who remains undefeated in WTA 125 singles finals with a perfect 4-0 record, highlighted her consistency on clay, having previously won titles in Santa Cruz and Antalya #1 in 2024.

In Makarska, Croatia, the Makarska Open concluded with Sara Bejlek, age 19, claiming her second WTA 125 title. Bejlek swiftly defeated Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra 6-0, 6-1 in a mere 56 minutes, showcasing her prowess on clay. Bejlek noted that her rise in the rankings, moving from No. 188 to No. 120, was significantly influenced by her impressive performance at Roland Garros, where she reached the second round as a qualifier.

Both Todoni and Bejlek emerged victorious in their respective tournaments, demonstrating the depth of talent within women's tennis, especially among the younger generation. These victories also reflect the growing competitive nature of the WTA 125 circuit.

Overall, the WTA 125 events in Birmingham, Bari, and Makarska provided thrilling matches and showcased the resilience and skill of emerging female tennis stars. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on these athletes as they continue to make their mark on the professional circuit.