By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday June 20, 2021
Ons Jabeur topped Daria Kasatkina on Sunday in Birmingham to become the WTA's first ever Arab singles titlist.
It was a groundbreaking achievement—and a long time coming.
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur claimed her maiden WTA title on Sunday at Birmingham, defeating Russia’s Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 6-4.
In a rematch of the 2018 Moscow final, it was the World No.24 who claimed the victory to level up with World No.1 Ashleigh Barty atop the WTA’s 2021 win list with her 28th victory (28-10).
“I’m so proud,” Jabeur said. “I struggled a lot, I’ve lost two finals, it’s been tough for me to win a WTA title. I was thinking this morning am I going to cry and be disappointed tonight or am I going to celebrate.”
Jabeur had lost her two previous encounters with Kasatkina, and her two previous singles finals as well, but she steadied up today, winning 23 of 31 first serve points and converting five of 10 break points against the World No.35.
“I know I had to go for it, I had to win this title, to just at least breathe in, and give the example, there’s a lot of Tunisian or Arabic players playing,” she said. “I hope this could inspire them. I want to see more Arabic and Tunisian [players] playing with me on tour.”