PARMA LADIES OPEN PRESENTED BY IREN, READY TO START
THE FIFTH EDITION
18 TOP 100 IN MAIN DRAW, THERE IS ALEXANDRA EALA
LUCIA BRONZETTI IS THE ITALIAN READY TO AMAZE
Parma, 16 April 2025 – The wait for the fifth edition of the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren is almost over. From 12 to 17 May 2025, the courts of the Tennis Club Parma will once again see a very high level of tennis. The Emilian WTA 125 organized by MEF Tennis Events, presented again this year by the Title Sponsor Iren and supported by the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Parma, has confirmed its position on the calendar of last season, and this year too the tournament will take place in parallel with the second week of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. There is no shortage of important names that will be part of the event, with an entry list of 18 Top 100 led by number 23 WTA Yulia Putintseva. One to keep an eye on especially is Alexandra Eala, a tennis player born in 2005 who only a few weeks ago was able to reach the semifinals of the WTA 1000 in Miami. Italy will be able to count on the participation of Lucia Bronzetti, who returns to Emilia-Romagna after last year, as well as the Australian, former number 32 in the world, Ajla Tomljanovic. The presentation press conference is scheduled for Tuesday 6 May at 11:30 in the Sala di Rappresentanza of the Municipal Residence in Strada Repubblica, 1 Parma, in the presence of the mayor Michele Guerra, the councilor Marco Bosi, as well as representatives of the Emilia-Romagna Region, FITP Emilia-Romagna, CONI, Tennis Club Parma and MEF tennis events.
The entry list, between familiar faces and surprises – The entry list of the 2025 edition is led by the number 23 WTA tennis player, Yulia Putintseva. The Kazakh is only the first of 18 Top 100, a number that suggests a week with a high technical level. Italy will be represented by Lucia Bronzetti, currently number 58 in the world and with the aim of taking an important satisfaction in her country, but that’s not all. Among the tennis players to keep an eye on is the Filipino Alexandra Eala: born in 2005, the very young athlete had already shown herself among the Juniors, climbing the ranking to number 2 in the world and lifting the US Open trophy in 2022. Today she is doing well among the professionals with excellent results, the latest in order of time being the semifinal at the WTA 1000 in Miami, a satisfaction that allows her to find herself at number 72 in the world ranking. Closing out a rich package of protagonists is also the American Alycia Parks, already present in Parma last year, as well as Ajla Tomljanovic: the curriculum speaks for the Australian, capable of reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2021, and then repeating herself the following year by returning to the top 8 both in London and at the US Open.
Tathiana Garbin’s greeting – “There are tournaments that go beyond rankings and scores, and the Parma Ladies Open is one of them”. Music and words of the captain of the Italian National Team, reigning champion in the Billie Jean King Cup, Tathiana Garbin, who has a deep affection for the MEF Tennis Events event: “It is a tournament that speaks to the heart of Italian tennis, which has given and continues to give space and value to our girls: to those who dream, who train hard, who fight every day to build a career. It is a concrete opportunity, because it allows our athletes to compete with strong, high-level players, in a competitive but familiar context. All this happens in front of our fans, with that special push that only Italy can give. Parma was, and is, a springboard: the place where you can grow, test yourself, make mistakes, learn, start again. It is a precious space for our movement, an environment that supports, values and accompanies our players in a crucial phase of their journey. I say this as a captain, but also with the heart of someone who has been there, on that journey made of sacrifices and dreams, and knows what it means to be able to count on a real chance, or never find it. Tournaments like Parma really make the difference, because they are places where something authentic can be born. And I am certain that new stories, new hopes, new protagonists of our tennis will continue to start from here”.
The words of Bosi and Alinovi – “The fifth edition of the Parma Ladies Open confirms how this event is becoming a fixed point for our city – said Marco Bosi, Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Parma –. In the past we have had the thrill of hosting icons like Serena Williams and young promises who are now shining at a world level, like Coco Gauff. Women’s tennis has always found great welcome and passion in Parma, and after the first four editions there is a desire to do even better”. The President of the Tennis Club Parma, Giampiero Alinovi, also expressed his best wishes: “This year too, we are proud to host the Parma Ladies Open, a prestigious event that will bring some of the best international tennis players to our courts, along with a few surprises that we hope will prove interesting. This event is part of a long tradition that has seen our club as a protagonist with top-level tennis events, and we are happy to welcome the athletes and all those who want to attend a high-quality sporting spectacle. As always, we must thank the institutions that support us, in particular the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Municipality of Parma, as well as MEF Tennis Events for its constant collaboration, in addition to the sponsors and our members who make the event possible”.
