Stearns races past Sherif to win the Rabat Open title

Peyton Stearns won her maiden WTA title by defeating Mayar Sherif 6-2, 6-1 at Union Sportive des Cheminots du Maroc on Saturday afternoon to lift the Rabat Open trophy.

Stearns was in clinical form throughout the contest as she comfortably dispatched a struggling Sherif to sprint to her first tour-level title in style.

Two breaks in each set without reply were more than enough for the American, who did not face a single break point in the match until the final game.

While today’s victory was about as straightforward as a final could be, Stearns’ path the showpiece was a long and arduous one.

She fought back from a one-set, 5-0 deficit against Tomova earlier in the tournament while also needed three sets against Krunic and fourth-seeded Bronzetti en route to the final.

In the previous rounds of the Rabat tournament, Sherif, ranked No 66, beat Moroccan wildcard Aya El Aouni (6-2, 6-1), Argentinian Maria Lourdes Carle (6-3, 6-2), Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo, the No 3 seed (6-3, 6-3) and Russian Kamilla Rakhimova (6-0, 6-1).

Sherif, who became the first Egyptian woman to win a WTA title with her victory in Parma in 2022, could not find any rhythm against a dialled-in Stearns, struggling to make any inroads into the American’s serve until the very last game.

But Sherif could not convert any of the four break points she generated in Stearns’ last service game, as the American held serve to reach the biggest milestone of her career so far.

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