Jacquemot delivers statement maiden pro triumph in Dubai

Elsa Jacquemot picked an opportune time to win her first professional singles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour – cruising through the draw at W100+H Dubai to make a hugely impressive debut triumph.

The 19-year-old former junior world No. 1 has long been a player of great promise, but her Dubai run – in which she didn’t drop a set all week – may prove the breakthrough that sparks her rapid ascent in the women’s game.

A 7-5 6-2 victory over Poland’s Magadalena Frech saw the Frenchwoman strike it third time lucky in title matches following runner-up finishes at W25 Perigueuex in June 2021 and W25 Manacor this February.

Her five successive match-wins in Dubai also ended a run of three defeats at WTA 125K, ITF W80 and W100 level, and delivered a triumphant return in just the fourth ITF W100 event she has contested.

As a result, she climbed 61 places to a career-high No. 143 in the WTA rankings on Monday.

Jacquemot’s junior highlights include winning seven titles - including at 2020 Roland Garros, where she became the first home grown girls’ singles champion since Kristina Mladenovic 11 years earlier.

She enjoyed another milestone win on the Paris clay this year, capitalising on a wild card from the FFT to defeat Britain’s Heather Watson for her first Grand Slam match-win, before falling to Angelique Kerber in round two.

Fellow French player Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah also won her maiden ITF singles title over the weekend, with the 16-year-old triumphing as a qualifier at W15 Valencia.

There were also wins for Cagla Buyukakcay, who won her second title of the season and 12th ITF singles crown overall at W25 Monastir, Croatian teen Lucija Ciric Bagaric, who won her second straight title at W15 Oberpullendorf, and Britain’s Katy Dunne, who won her first title in over three years at W15 Sharm El Sheikh.