NOTTINGHAM: American McCartney Kessler secured her third career title on Sunday, defeating Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 7-5 in a rain-interrupted Nottingham Open final.

Kessler, who recorded her first main draw tour-level win on grass earlier this month at Queen’s, dominated the match from the outset and sealed victory in one hour and 34 minutes.

“I’m super excited to have another title. I’ve gotten to another final, another great week of tennis for me. I want to start by congratulating Dayana on a good week as well,” Kessler said.

The 25-year-old American outperformed Yastremska on serve in the first set, winning 17 of her 25 service points compared to the Ukrainian’s 19 from 35 first serves.

The second set went to 3-3 before Kessler fought off a spirited challenge from Yastremska to close it 7-5.

Yastremska, the first Ukrainian player to reach a WTA Tour final on the surface in 17 years, was playing her second final of the year but fell short of clinching her first WTA title since 2019.

Yastremska admitted the ongoing conflict with Russia in her home country made tennis of secondary importance.

“It’s been also been a tough week with what was going on in Ukraine so I have had to deal with a lot of things this week,” she said. “I want to say I am proud of myself, I am improving some things I am working on. Not the win, but I hope soon, it’s day-by-day. “

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2025