Lalla Meryem Tennis GP: Italy's Rita Grante gets title

Italian tennis woman Rita Grande broke out of a two-year and half title drought with a three-set victory over Antonella Serra Zanetti in Saturday's all-Italian final of HRH Lalla Meryem Tennis Grand Prix.

Seeded second, Grande held off her countrywoman in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, for her first tournament triumph since Bratislava in October, 2001.

The 28-year-old Italian earned her third career title. She also won at Hobart two years ago.

Grande's success here was unexpected after arriving in Morocco on a five-match losing streak. She won her last two matches in three sets, but never faced a player ranked higher than the 84th-ranked Serra Zanetti.