Photo Source: TC
McCartney Kessler was ready to lock up her first career grass court title in style on Sunday, but the 25-year-old was made to wait.
First it was the rain, which delayed the opening set for nearly two hours. Then it was her determined opponent.
Trailing 5-3 in the second set Dayana Yastremska saved five championship points then broke to level at 5-all in the second set. “It was obviously a tighter second set than I wanted at 5-3,” Kessler said after winning the title. “But it made it all the more exciting, I got to play more in front of the crowd.”
Kessler settled in after that moment and hit back, taking the final two games to complete her 6-4, 7-5 victory, which marked her third title in less than a year.
The 42nd-ranked American, a Nottingham debutante, improves to 2-1 lifetime against Yastremska, and 3-1 in WTA finals.
The former Florida Gator, who started 2024 outside of the Top 200, will make her Top 40 debut on Monday thanks to her title run.
46th-ranked Yastremska was bidding for her fourth career title in her first appearance in Nottingham since 2017.
“It’s my second final of this year,” Yastremska said. “You win, you lose – doesn’t matter – I was enjoying playing here… I am very proud of myself even though I lost today, I am improving some things that I am working on, day by day I am trying my best.”