Sherif lifts maiden trophy in Parma, beats top seed Sakkari

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.

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