Ons Jabeur secures landmark victory in Birmingham final
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur serves to United States’s Coco Gauff during their fourth round match on day 9, of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, June 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Second-seeded Ons Jabeur became the first Arab woman to win a singles title on the elite women’s tennis tour with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Daria Kasatkina in the Viking Classic final on Sunday.
“I knew I had to go for it, I had to win this title to at least breathe, and give an example,” Jabeur said during the trophy presentation. “There’s not a lot of Tunisian or Arabic players playing, so I hope this could inspire them. I want to see more Arabic (players) and Tunisians playing with me on tour.”
It was also her first victory against Kasatkina. The fourth-seeded Russian, who was going for her third title this year, had won both previous contests against Jabeur, but they were not on grass.
The 24th-ranked Jabeur lost her two previous WTA singles finals — against Kasatkina in Moscow in 2018 and at Charleston earlier this season.
Jabeur has a tour-leading 28 wins this year, tied with top-ranked Ashleigh Barty.
Her best run at a Grand Slam tournament was into the quarterfinals at the 2020 Australian Open. On clay at the French Open earlier this month, she lost to Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
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