Aimee Gibson Wins 10th FIP Tour Title in Casablanca Comeback

Aimee Gibson is back on top of the podium. The British number one and her Spanish partner Eugenia Guimet won the FIP Bronze Shell Casablanca on Sunday, beating second seeds Maria Laura Ferreyra and Matilde Minelli 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

It is the 10th FIP tour title of Gibson's career and her first since a torn calf muscle sidelined her for five months earlier this year. She made her comeback in July and had reached three finals without winning one before this week in Morocco.

A brutal semifinal

Gibson and Guimet first had to survive a marathon semifinal against Spanish third seeds Ana Cristina Sanchez Perez and Natalia Molinilla Paniagua. The pair saved three match points and needed three and a half hours in 37-degree heat to close it out 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.

"It's probably the hardest match I think I've played so far in my career in terms of the conditions," Gibson said afterward. "I'm really proud of winning this tournament after such a tough match in the semi-finals. I've got to three finals since my injury so it's really nice to win a title again, as you never know when it's going to happen."

What's next

Gibson and Guimet head to the FIP Silver Guimaraes in Portugal next, before Gibson plays the FIP World Cup European qualifier in Madrid later this month.

The win moves Gibson back into title contention on the FIP tour after a year defined as much by rehab as by results.