Sherif breaks new ground for Egypt with W100 Charleston triumph
Qualifier Mayar Sherif achieved another huge breakthrough for Egyptian tennis after becoming the first player from her nation to win a $100,000-level tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour at W100 Charleston on Sunday.
The 24-year-old from Cairo, who became the first Egyptian woman to win a tournament at W25 level last year, went several steps further this weekend by defeating Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa 6-2 6-3 to win one of the most prestigious titles available on the ITF Tour.
“It means a lot to me because I’ve been working so, so hard and I’ve been waiting for my chance to come,” said Sherif, who won seven matches on the bounce – including two in qualifying – en route to claiming her ninth professional title.
“This week has been tough physically, coming from the qualies. I’ve pushed it every day, but I’m so happy.
“I’ve worked so hard, I woke up every day so tired, but I put in the work and I always pushed it. My experience here has been great – the physio has been amazing to me!”
Sherif overcame four opponents ranked above her - including world no. 81 Misaki Doi in the semi-finals - during her week in Charleston, and climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 132 on Monday as a result.
Having begun the 2019 season unranked after playing college tennis at Pepperdine, Sherif has made huge strides over the past 24 months, collecting six ITF titles throughout a remarkable 2019 season that also saw her post over 70 match-wins, compile a 26-match winning streak and become the first Egyptian woman to crack the Top 200.
One of 29 players from 22 countries to have received 2020 International Player Grand Slam® Grants financed by the Grand Slam Development Fund (GSDF), Sherif is an example of how the programme provides the financial support for promising players to capitalise on their talents.
“Honestly last year I was struggling financially to a point that I couldn’t pay for one plane ticket to travel, or I couldn’t pay my rent,” Sherif said during Roland Garros in October, when she became the first Egyptian woman ever to compete at a Grand Slam. “This GSDF fund for me was the world.”
With the days of financial hardship seemingly behind her, Sherif is closing in on her target of becoming the first Egyptian woman to reach the Top 100 – and the first player from her nation to achieve the feat since Ismail El Shafei in 1978.
But thoughts of a double-digit ranking may have to wait a little while longer while she plans her next move.
“I’m going home for a week – back to Spain for now – and then I’m going to play a tournament in the Canary Islands,” said Sherif. “After that I honestly have no idea. It depends on the tournaments and the Covid situation. If the Australian Open is going to be happening next year, then I’m definitely going. I cannot wait to play in Australia again."
Runner-up Kawa, meanwhile, could be more than satisfied by her week in Charleston – having reached her first singles final at W100 level and also won the doubles - her biggest doubles title yet - alongside compatriot Magdalena Frech.
In a role-reversal of the singles, the Polish pair beat Sherif and her Australian partner Astra Sharma 4-6 6-4 10-2 to win their second title in three weeks, having also triumphed at W80 Macon in late October.
“I’m pretty happy with my results this week – I’ve been in the singles final and I won the doubles,” said Kawa. “I’d like to thank the organisers and everyone who made this tournament possible. It’s been a great experience and I hope to come back.”