Ibragimova A. rallied from a set down to defeat Burel C. 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the WTA 125K Palermo first round, showcasing resilience on serve and in big moments. Despite being outplayed on return points overall, the winner saved 9 of 15 break points (60%) and converted four of her own to edge a seesaw contest.
Burel grabbed the first set with breaks in the third and ninth games, converting two of five break chances while saving her only break point. The second set became a slugfest: Ibragimova broke first at 1-0, only for Burel to reply immediately; the pattern continued at 5-4 and 5-5 before Ibragimova won the tiebreak 7-6. In the deciding set, players exchanged breaks four times in the opening games (Burel at 1-0, Ibragimova at 1-1, Burel at 2-1, Ibragimova at 2-2) until Ibragimova broke decisively at 5-3 and held for 6-4 despite a late break saved by Burel.
Ibragimova's first‑serve percentage was a key differentiator: she landed 79 of 115 first serves (69%) compared to Burel's 45 of 85 (53%). That consistency helped her win 52% of points behind her first delivery and keep the pressure on, even as Burel won more total points (102 to 97).