Sonay Kartal beats Sramkova to win maiden WTA title at Jasmin Open

Sonay Kartal won her maiden WTA title beating Rebecca Sramkova 6-3, 7-5 in Monastir to win the Jasmin Open title.

It is Kartal’s first title at tour level, and it completes a remarkable week for the Briton, who came through qualifying before powering her way through the draw with the drop of just a single set.

She was too strong for Sramkova today, with Kartal dealing with the size of the occasion much better than her Slovak opponent.

“I’ve played some of my best tennis this week, had some of my best wins,” said Kartal, after the match.

“I feel like each match I’ve grown and grown. I tried so hard to put the occasion and the score behind me.

“I started the year with the goal of being top 150, so now I have passed that. I’m just trying to end the year in the top 100.”

Kartal, ranked No 151, defeated Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, the No 5 seed (4-6, 6-3, 7-5), Japanese Mai Hontama (6-2, 6-2), Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva (7-6 (4), 6-2) and German Eva Lys (5-1 ret.) ahead of her victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Sramkova, ranked No 136, beat French qualifier Elsa Jacquemot (2-6, 7-5, 6-3), Frenchwoman Clara Burel, the second seed (7-6 (4), 7-5), Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo (1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5) and Italian Lucia Bronzetti, the No 7 seed (6-3, 6-4).