GB's Kartal claims maiden WTA title in Tunisia

British number 4 Sonay Kartal held disconnected nan nerves to clinch a maiden WTA title pinch a straight-set triumph complete Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova successful nan last of nan Jasmin Open successful Tunisia.

The 22-year-old world number 151 is group to move to a career-high ranking 96 connected Monday aft clinching a 6-3 7-5 win.

After dominating her higher-ranked force successful nan mediate of nan match, Kartal mislaid 3 consecutive work games pinch occurrence successful sight, earlier yet settling herself to service it out.

Sramkova, number 136 successful nan world, fired agelong for a 39th unforced correction of nan lucifer to manus nan Briton her landmark triumph connected nan first of 2 title points.

"I've played immoderate of my champion tennis this week, had immoderate of my champion wins," said Kartal, aft coming done qualifying and dropping conscionable 1 group successful nan tourney successful Monastir.

"I consciousness for illustration each lucifer I've grown and grown. I tried truthful difficult to put nan juncture and nan people down me."

Both women were playing successful their first last astatine this level and Kartal warned beforehand that nan subordinate who handled nan juncture champion would travel retired connected top.

After an early wobble, dropping her service successful nan opening game, she showed nan greater tactical acumen to exert control.

Kartal won nan last 3 games of nan opening group and opened a 4-1 lead successful nan 2nd earlier her service started to fto her down, albeit nether aggravated unit from a resurgent Sramkova.

She overcame that pressure, breaking her 27-year-old force a full of 4 times successful a 2nd group that lasted 71 minutes, yet sealing nan triumph successful conscionable nether 2 hours.

"I started nan twelvemonth pinch nan extremity of being apical 150, truthful now I person passed that," added Kartal, who was 298 successful nan world earlier reaching nan 3rd information of Wimbledon this year.

"I'm conscionable trying to extremity nan twelvemonth successful nan apical 100."

Elsewhere, Britain's Jacob Fearnley, 23, won his 3rd title successful 4 months connected nan Challenger Tour, beating 27-year-old Frenchman Quentin Halys 0-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 successful Rennes.

He is now expected to emergence to 129 successful nan world, up 396 places since graduating from Texas Christian University successful May.