Rising American tennis star Tyra Grant is set to represent Italy after previously competing for the USA. Her father, Tyrone Grant, is American, while her mother, Cinzia Giovinco, is Italian. The 17-year-old was born in Rome and raised in Vigevano, a town in northern Italy.
Grant will first play under the Italian banner on the WTA Tour at the upcoming Italian Open, which will take place from May 6 to May 18, 2025, at the Foro Italico in Rome.
Tyra Grant To Play for Italy After Representing USA on the WTA Tour
Since Grant was born in Italy, she began her tennis journey in Italy. She trained at the renowned Piatti Academy in Bordighera, where Jannik Sinner also previously trained. In 2023, she moved to Florida and continued her training at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
Tyra Grant and Jannik Sinner trained at the same academy in Italy
Grant competed under the American flag at the 2025 Miami Open and the Madrid Open this year. At the WTA 1000 tournament in Florida, the 17-year-old received a wildcard to the main draw, where she faced Julia Grabher in the first round and lost with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
Most recently, Grant competed at the Madrid Open, where she received a wildcard into the singles qualifying draw. She triumphed over Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-3 in the first qualifying round before being eliminated by Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1, 7-5 in the second qualifying round. The teenager is currently ranked 356th in singles while being 516th in doubles.
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Tyra Grant Won Three Girls’ Doubles Grand Slam Titles While Representing USA
In her young tennis career, Grant has already secured three girls’ doubles Grand Slam titles, all of which she won while representing the United States. She triumphed at the 2023 French Open, the 2024 Australian Open, and the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
During the 2023 French Open, Grant teamed up with compatriot Clervie Ngounoue. The pair was seeded sixth in the tournament, and they defeated Vlada Mincheva and Anya Murthy, Iva Ivanova and Mester Cara Maria, Alena Kovačková and Laura Samsonová, and Sayaka Ishii and Ena Koike on their path to the final. In the championship match, they emerged victorious over Alina Korneeva and Sara Saito to claim the title.
At the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships, Grant partnered with fellow American Iva Jovic. In Melbourne, the American pair, seeded third, triumphed over opponents like Noemi Basiletti/Gaia Maduzzi, Yelyzaveta Kotliar/Monika Stankiewicz, Yoana Konstantinova/Teodora Kostović, and Ena Koike/Sara Saito to secure a spot in the final. There, they overcame Julie Paštiková and Julia Stusek to clinch the title.
At the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, Grant and Jovic defeated the pairs of Charo Esquiva Bañuls/Jang Ga-eul, Daniela Piani/Hollie Smart, Ivanova/Wakana Sonobe, Emerson Jones/Vittoria Paganetti, and Mika Stojsavljevic and Mingge Xu in the final.