Sherif lifts maiden trophy in Parma, beats top seed Sakkari
Mayar Sherif won the trophy on Saturday evening against Maria Sakkari.
Mayar Sherif in Parma (Zuma/Panoramic)
Egyptian Mayar Sherif beat Greek Maria Sakkari, the top seed, 7-5, 6-3 to win the Parma Open title at the Tennis Club Parma on Saturday.
It was Sherif’s maiden WTA title, and her first career win over a player ranked in the top 10.
The former Pepperdine standout becomes the first woman from Egypt to ever claim a WTA Title.
The final was played on the same day as the semi-finals, meaning both players were suffering slightly from tiredness.
“Today was a very tough day for me – many hours on the court – but I pulled it off…I’m happy I managed to win,” she said on court afterwards.
Sherif is one of seven first-time title winners on the WTA Tour in 2022. Here is the complete list:
- Martina Trevisan – Rabat
- Anastasia Potapova – Istanbul
- Beatriz Haddad Maia – Nottingham
- Bernarda Pera – Budapest
- Marie Bouzkova – Prague
- Fruhvirtova – Chennai
- Sherif – Parma
Her first serve percentage was 79 per cent compared to Sakkari’s disappointing 58.
Earlier in the tournament, Sherif, ranked No 74, defeated Hungarian Anna Bondar, the No 5 seed (7-5, 6-4), Swiss qualifier Simona Waltert (6-3, 7-6 (1)), American Lauren Davis (7-6 (2), 6-3) and Romanian Ana Bogdan, the No 6 seed (6-4, 3-6, 6-4).
Sakkari, ranked No 7, beat Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Baindl (6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3), Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus (3-6, 6-2, 6-3), Belgian Maryna Zanevska (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) and Montenegrin Danka Kovinic (7-5, 6-2) in the previous rounds.
