In a thrilling showdown at the Nottingham Open, American tennis star McCartney Kessler clinched her first grass-court WTA Tour title with a hard-fought victory over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska. The final, which was marred by rain delays, saw Kessler emerge victorious with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-5.

Kessler, ranked 42nd in the world, was on the verge of taking the first set, leading 5-4 with a break, when the match was interrupted by rain. After a lengthy delay, play resumed, and Kessler quickly wrapped up the opening set. She then secured a crucial break in the seventh game of the second set, putting her in a commanding position.

However, Yastremska, who was seeking her first WTA title since 2019, mounted a spirited comeback. She saved five match points and managed to break Kessler's serve to level the second set. But Kessler remained composed, immediately regaining the advantage with another break of serve before serving out the match to claim the title.

This victory marks a significant milestone for Kessler, who had only recorded her first career grass-court win the previous week at Queen's. Her performance at the Nottingham Open demonstrates her growing prowess on grass courts and sets the stage for a promising season ahead.

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