Burel storms back from a set down to beat Herrero Linana and win Valencia, her first title since her knee injury

Clara Burel came from a set down to beat Spain’s Alicia Herrero Linana 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday evening and lift the BBVA Open Internacional de Valencia trophy, the Frenchwoman’s first title of 2026 and the second WTA 125 crown of her career.

Ranked No. 412 as she works her way back from a severe knee injury, Burel won 12 of the last 14 games of the final after dropping the opening set on the Valencia clay. The title carries her back toward the top 200 and secures her a place in Australian Open qualifying.

On her way to the final she had beaten German qualifier Joelle Lilly Sophie Steur 6-1, 6-4 and Spaniard Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales 6-2, 6-4, advanced when Italian Martina Trevisan withdrew, and come through against Spanish qualifier Aran Teixido Garcia 7-6 (3), 6-0.

Herrero Linana, ranked No. 305, had beaten Moroccan Yasmine Kabbaj 6-0, 6-3, Irene Burillo 6-2, 6-1, Swiss No. 7 seed Rebeka Masarova 6-1, 6-2 and wildcard Lucia Cortez Llorca 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 earlier in the week.