Australian tennis player Astra Sharma has won her maiden WTA title in Charleston.
In the biggest win of her career to date, the 25-year-old from WA has broken through to defeat Ons Jabeur in the final in Charleston, 2-6 7-5 6-1.
The win over Jabeur, who is ranked 25th in the world, is Sharma's first-ever win over an opponent ranked in the top 30.
Ranked 165 in the world, Sharma jumped 45 places after the victory to be 120th in the WTA rankings.
After struggling in the first set, Sharma managed to turn the momentum in her favour against the Tunisian.
She scraped by in the second set but was emphatic in the third, losing just one game and celebrating the victory with a massive roar.
First title feels 😀💪@astrasharma takes out the No.1 seed Jabeur in three sets to claim the title 🏆#MUSCHealthWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/9djVizOEe8
— wta (@WTA) April 18, 2021
"To come out of this with a win, it’s really unexpected, it’s amazing for me, I have no words," Sharma told media after the match.
"It hasn’t really sunk in that I won, I’m so happy."
"There are so many weeks where you come so close, and it’s rare to finally end a week on a win.
"Two years ago in Bogota, when I was so close, the nerves got the better of me.
"This time, I was a lot more calm and just held my nerve really well.
"Especially with Ons playing such high-level tennis in the first, I thought I did well to just reset in the second and just keep making her come up with the same shots."
First title feels 😀💪@astrasharma takes out the No.1 seed Jabeur in three sets to claim the title 🏆#MUSCHealthWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/9djVizOEe8
— wta (@WTA) April 18, 2021
Sharma only dropped two sets in the entire tournament and became the sixth player on tour to win their first title in 2021.
She's got that new champion glow. ⭐️ @astrasharma just became the sixth first-time @WTA title winner of the season, dropping only ✌️ sets en route to her milestone victory in #CHS at the #MUSCHealthWomensOpen. pic.twitter.com/YUsJWM79qf
— Volvo Car Open (@VolvoCarOpen) April 18, 2021
The look of a new champion 💪😍@astrasharma | #MUSCHealthWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/3rToBElyQD
— Volvo Car Open (@VolvoCarOpen) April 18, 2021
Unfortunately, for the other Australians in action in Charleston, it wasn't as successful a day.
Ellen Perez and Storm Sanders were first seeds in the women's double and were taking on the American pair of Hailey Baptiste and Caty McNally.
Baptiste and McNally upset the Australian duo in three sets to lift the title, 6-7(4), 6-4, [10-6].
