NOTTINGHAM — American rising star McCartney Kessler clinched her maiden WTA Tour title on grass with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 victory over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in a rain-disrupted Nottingham Open final on Sunday. The 24-year-old Floridian, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, capped off a dream week with a composed performance against the third-seeded Yastremska.
Kessler's triumph marks the first WTA title by an American qualifier since Alison Riske at 's-Hertogenbosch in 2019. The former University of Florida standout, ranked No. 146 coming into Nottingham, will rocket up the rankings after defeating four seeded players en route to the championship. "This feels surreal," Kessler said during the trophy ceremony. "Grass wasn't even my surface until this week!"
A Breakthrough Performance
The final, originally scheduled for Saturday, was pushed to Sunday due to persistent rain showers that plagued the tournament throughout the week. When play finally commenced under overcast skies, Kessler demonstrated remarkable adaptability to the slick conditions. Her game featured:
- Precise serving: 68% first serves in, saving 4 of 5 break points
- Tactical net play: Won 12 of 15 approaches to the net
- Clutch play: Converted 3 of 4 break point opportunities
Yastremska, the 2024 Australian Open semifinalist, struggled to find rhythm against Kessler's varied game. "She played unbelievable tennis today," the Ukrainian admitted. "Every time I tried to change something, she had an answer."
Turning Points
First Set: Early Break Proves Decisive
Kessler seized control in the fifth game of the opening set, capitalizing on Yastremska's double fault to secure the break. The American's backhand slice proved particularly effective, drawing 12 unforced errors from Yastremska in the set. Rain interrupted play at 5-3, but after a 90-minute delay, Kessler served out the set confidently.
Second Set: Nerves and Resolve
The second set featured three consecutive breaks of serve from 3-3 onward as both players grappled with nerves. Kessler saved a set point at 4-5 with a daring forehand winner down the line, later describing it as "the biggest shot I've ever hit in my life." She broke Yastremska in the 11th game before serving out the match at love, sealing victory with an ace.
Road to the Final
Kessler's path to the title was nothing short of remarkable:
- Qualifying Rounds: Defeated Valentini Grammatikopoulou and Emina Bektas
- Main Draw: Upset No. 5 seed Marta Kostyuk in straight sets
- Quarterfinals: Overcame British hope Heather Watson in three sets
- Semifinals: Dominated No. 2 seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-2
Nottingham tournament director Rebecca James praised Kessler's composure: "What impressed me most was her mental toughness. For someone with so little tour-level experience, she handled the delays, the crowd, and the occasion like a veteran."
What This Means for Kessler
The victory propels Kessler into the Top 100 for the first time (projected No. 78) and earns her a main draw wildcard into Eastbourne. More significantly, it establishes her as one of the most promising American prospects ahead of Wimbledon. "This changes everything," Kessler told reporters. "Now I know I belong at this level."
Yastremska, despite the loss, moves up to No. 27 in the live rankings - matching her career high. The Ukrainian remains optimistic about her grass season: "I'm playing good tennis. If I keep this level, good things will come."
Looking Ahead
Kessler's fairy-tale run in Nottingham signals the arrival of another exciting American talent on the WTA Tour. With her all-court game and newfound confidence, tennis analysts are already drawing comparisons to countrywoman Danielle Collins' breakthrough season. As the grass season continues, all eyes will be on whether Kessler can maintain this momentum at Eastbourne and Wimbledon.
The Nottingham Open, often seen as a warm-up for Wimbledon, has once again proven its ability to produce surprise champions and compelling narratives. For McCartney Kessler, this victory represents not just a career milestone, but potentially the start of something much bigger.