In a stunning turn of events, Tyra Grant, a rising star in the tennis world, has chosen to represent Italy instead of her birth country, the United States. The 17-year-old player, who boasts an impressive resume as a three-time junior Grand Slam doubles champion, made this significant decision public as she prepares for her debut at the Italian Open. "Italy is my home, it was a personal decision but I had this thought for a long time," Grant stated in an interview with Sky Sport Insider.
Born in Vigevano, a town near Milan, Grant has deep roots in Italy. Her father, Tyrone Grant, is an American basketball player who spent a significant part of his professional career in Italy, while her mother, Cinzia Giovinco, introduced her to the sport of tennis. This unique blend of cultures has shaped Grant into the player she is today, and her decision to switch nationalities reflects her strong connection to her Italian heritage.
Grant's journey in tennis began at the Riccardo Piatti academy in Bordighera, where she trained from the age of seven until she was 14. This academy is renowned for nurturing talents, including current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is 6½ years older than Grant. Reflecting on her time with Sinner, Grant shared, "Growing up with Jannik was great. He was around 14 when we first met, and although there was an age gap, we were like a big family in Bordighera, which was lovely." This familial atmosphere at the academy undoubtedly contributed to her development as a player.
Despite being currently ranked No. 335 by the WTA Tour, Grant holds the No. 6 spot in the International Tennis Federation’s junior rankings. Her impressive performances in junior competitions include reaching the semifinals of the junior singles tournament at last year’s French Open and competing in the senior mixed doubles at the U.S. Open alongside American partner Aleksandar Kovacevic. Although they were ultimately defeated by the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, Grant's potential is evident.
As she steps onto the court in Rome, Grant will face Antonia Ruzic in her opening singles match, having received a wild card entry to the tournament. Additionally, she has qualified for the doubles draw after winning a pre-qualifying tournament with her partner, Lisa Pigato. Grant expressed her excitement about the upcoming matches, saying, "I’m hoping to have a lot of support here. I have a lot of friends who have told me they want to come see me play." This support will be crucial as she embarks on this new chapter of her career.
In a related note, Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion and current world No. 3, has also turned her focus to the Italian Open after narrowly missing out on the Madrid Open title. Gauff lost the final to WTA Tour number one Aryna Sabalenka, who secured a 6-3, 7-6(7-3) victory. Both Gauff and Sabalenka will begin their Italian Open campaigns in the second round after receiving byes in the first round. Gauff, who is now 21 years old, was asked about Grant's potential and her recent switch to representing Italy.
Gauff commented, "I don’t know her super well. I met her a while ago. Based on the results, what I see her doing in juniors, obviously she has a lot of potential. I just never sat there and watched a match. I will now that she’s playing on the same level. I’ll try to get ready. Probably going to play each other sooner than later." Gauff also noted that she was not surprised by Grant's decision to switch nationalities, as Grant has always expressed pride in her Italian roots and culture.
Interestingly, Italy currently has only one woman in the top 50 of the WTA rankings, Jasmine Paolini, who is ranked No. 5. In contrast, Gauff leads a group of 10 Americans in the top 50, which raises the question of whether Grant might garner more attention in Italy than she would in the U.S. Grant herself remarked, "Obviously the U.S. is bigger and probably has more female players, but I was already one of the top players there, so it’s not much of a difference."
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Grant as she seeks to establish herself in the professional ranks. Her journey from a promising junior player to a competitor on the WTA Tour is one that many will be following closely. With her unique background and strong ties to Italy, Grant's story is not just about tennis; it's about identity, culture, and the pursuit of dreams.
In summary, Tyra Grant's decision to represent Italy marks a significant moment in her young career, and as she steps onto the courts of the Italian Open, the tennis world will be watching her closely. With the support of her friends and the Italian tennis community, Grant is poised to make her mark and follow in the footsteps of greats like Jannik Sinner.
