Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur clinched the first WTA title of her career with a 7-5 6-4 win over Daria Kasatkina at the Viking Classic in Birmingham.
Jabeur became the first Arab player to win a WTA Tour title. The Tunisian player had lost her previous two finals to Kasatkina in Moscow 2018 and to Astra Sharma n Charleston in 2021. Jabeur is tied for most match wins on the WTA Tour along with world number 1 Ashleigh Barty.
Jabeur converted five of her ten break points against Kasatkina, who has claimed two WTA titles earlier this season.
Jabeur earned her second break at 3-3 in the first set with a dropshot and a lob. Jabeur earned three set points at 5-3, but Kasatkina forced errors from Jabeur to hold serve. The Russian player forced Jabeur to serve for the set at 5-4. Jabeur dropped her serve, but broke serve once more to take a 6-5 lead with a dropshot return winner. Jabeur served out the first set with a backhand winner down the line.
Jabeur broke twice in the second set to race out to a 4-0 lead. Kasatkina saved a break point and held serve with an ace for 1-4. The Russian player pulled one break back to claw her way back to 3-4 with groundstroke winners. Jabeur earned her first match point at 5-4 and hit a forehand to force an error from Kastakina closing out the match.
“I knew I had to go for it, I had to win this title to at least breathe, and give an example. There are not a lot of Tunisian or Arabic players playing, so I hope this could, and I want to see more Arabic players and Tunisians playing with me on Tour. The last time we played was in Moscow and I was crying, it was a great battle ”, said Jabeur.Marie Bouzkova and and Lucie Hradecka beat Jabeur and Ellen Perez 6-4 2-6 10-8 in the Match Tie-Break.
