(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) October 15 would go down as a milestone day in the pro tennis career of Oman's No 1 star, Fatma al Nabhani, as she clinched her biggest singles title of her career on Sunday in the Tunisian city of Hammamet.
Participating in the US$15,000 ITF Hammamet Open, she breezed past top-seeded Bulgarian Isabella Shinikova 6-3, 6-1 in the summit clash on the claycourts of Hotel Sentido Phenicia.
It was her first singles title since 2015 when she won the US$10,000 ITF event in the Indian city of Hyderabad on September 26. Fatma had then defeated India's Rishika Sunkara 6-3, 6-1 to win back-to-back titles at the same venue, as she had beat India's Prerna Bhambri 6-4, 6-0 in the previous week.
Since turning a pro in 2010, Sunday's crown is the tenth singles career title. However, all the previous nine wins, beginning from her maiden crown in Fujairah, UAE, in 2010, were achieved at US$10,000 events.
Fatma did achieve a title in the US$25,000 event in doubles in 2013 when she teamed up with Romania's Cristina Dinu in Lagos, Nigeria on October 13.
Success in singles, however, had eluded Fatma since her glory in Hyderabad, though, she had won titles in doubles over the past few years with different partners.
Earlier in August, she and her Spanish partner Arabela Fernandez Rabener secured the doubles crown with a 2-6, 7-5 [10-5] win over Argentine-Japanese duo of Victoria Bosio and Kana Daniel in the US$15,000 event in Spain's Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
However, a recurrence of an back injury soon after her win in Spain, forced her to take rest.
Despite her pain, she travelled to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan last month to compete in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG).An injured Fatma lost in her opening round of the AIMAG to a Thailand rival, Chompoothip Jundakate.
She then decided to take rest but after a couple of weeks decided to play in Tunisia to test her recovery. Known for her determination, Fatma showed flashes of her brilliance in Hammamet as she stormed into the final without dropping a set.
Seeded second and ranked 487 in the world, Fatma has played against Isabella in the past. The Bulgarian, ranked 341 in the world, has had a career-best ranking of 133 in February and was the favourite in Tunisia.
But much-experienced Isabella was no match to Fatma, who was on a roll since her opening round win against American Sofia Booth 6-1, 6-3.
Fatma defeated Tunisian qualifier Mouna Bouzgarrou 7-5, 6-0 in the next round to book a place in the quarterfinals.
She blasted Germany's Katarina Hering in the next round with a 6-1, 6-4 win and then tamed third-seeded French girl Marina Partaud 6-2, 6-4.
Speaking to Muscat Daily from Tunisia soon after her title triumph, Fatma said, 'I am very happy to have won the title. When I entered into the tournament, it was more of an attempt to assess my recovery from injury.
'But it has been an amazing run for me here as I found my rhythm and glad that I have won a title.'
'It has come as a bit of surprise to me. To beat Isabella, who was ranked 133 in world in February, it is certainly a memorable win,' said Fatma.
The victory ended a two-year drought of singles titles and the Omani is hopeful of seeing a rise in her rankings.
'I have beaten much-higher ranked players in my career but this is my first singles title in an US$15,000 ITF event,' said Fatma.
'I am delighted to have won my first singles title of the year. There were quite a few occasions in the past when I was close to winning but it didn't happen. So, I'm very happy that the win has come soon after my recovery from back injury.'
In Hammamet, Fatma also reached the doubles semifinals with German player Hering.
Prior to her injury, she had reached the final of doubles event in an ITF event in August in Spain. Since the start of the year, Fatma has reached the final of doubles event twice in Cairo, Egypt (January), once each in Le Havre, France (March) and in Hua Hin, Thailand (May). She also made it to the semifinals in doubles in Hua Hin (July), Hammamet in Tunisia (April).
In singles, she was runner-up in Cairo in January when she lost to Belgium Helene Scholsen 2-6, 5-7. Fatma's career-best singles ranking was 362 in October 2010 while in doubles, she rose to 238 in April 2014.
So far this year, the Omani star has recorded 18 wins and 14 losses in singles while in doubles, she has 23 victories and 11 defeats.
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