Diane Parry’s 2025 season truly begins in Madrid. After months of struggling to return to a good level, the Nice native managed to qualify for the main draw of the Madrid Masters 1000.
It had been 156 days since Diane Parry last won a singles match. Specifically since November 16, 2024, and her success disrupted by an injury in the Billie Jean King Cup against Emiliana Arango. Since then, the Nice native underwent a period of care to heal her wounded knee during the match. Despite an attempt to make an early comeback for the Australian Open, Diane Parry was visibly not at her best. It was only in April that the situation improved. Selected for the BJKC with the French team, she teamed up with the returning Alizé Cornet to form the French doubles pair. The result: two wins in as many matches.
These successes were a morale booster for Diane Parry. While she seemed much better against Jaqueline Cristian at the Rouen Open, victory was not achieved. However, everything indicated that a win was coming soon.
The Trigger of the Season
Six days later, Diane Parry was involved in the qualifications for the Madrid Masters. This was due to her ranking collapsing during this period, falling from the Top 50 to the 116th place in the world. Now, to enter the major tournaments, she either needs a Wild Card or to go through the qualifying tournament. In Madrid, Diane Parry went through the qualifying phase.
In the first round, she faced the Russian, Oksana Selekhmeteva. A player of her generation (22 years old, 161st worldwide) who is accustomed to challenger tournaments. After saving two break points in the middle of the first set, the Nice native dominated the first set (6-2). Less solid on serve in the second set, Diane Parry had to work hard before clinching it on her sixth match point (7-5).
This first victory led to another one today. Against a much tougher opponent, Elisabetta Cocciaretto (24 years old, 87th worldwide), the player from the French Riviera showed no nerves in winning once again in two sets. The first set was easily dominated by the Azurean, who immediately took the lead and never let go. As with the day before, the second set was more contested, especially at the start. But Diane Parry gave no concessions after getting broken at 2-0. She won six consecutive games to seal her victory (6-2/6-2) and reach the first round of the Madrid Masters 1000.
Tomorrow, she will face Irina-Camelia Begu (34 years old, 75th worldwide) for a place in the second round.