Ons Jabeur dedicates Charleston Open title to nephew after edging Belinda Bencic in thriller

Ons Jabeur dedicated her first title of 2023 to her newborn nephew after winning the Charleston Open by beating Belinda Bencic in straight sets in Sunday’s final.

The Tunisian, who has climbed to No. 4 in the WTA rankings, triumphed 7-6 (6) 6-4 in a statement start to the clay court season.

Jabeur didn’t drop a set in Charleston and finished off her run impressively with nine aces and 24 winners, making a statement ahead of the European clay court events.

“I’ve been wanting to win this tournament for a long time,” Jabeur said.

“People have been amazing to me. So it’s nice to have a great memory here in Charleston and this is a pretty good start to the clay season.

“I’m very excited to go to Paris and celebrate with my family and with my little nephew, who was just born three weeks ago. This is his gift. He doesn’t know it, but it’s his gift.”

Two of Jabeur’s four career titles have come on clay and she has won more matches on the surface than any other player since the start of the 2020 season with 37 victories – one more than world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

However, she got off to a shaky start as Bencic went a break ahead to take a 5-3 lead and put herself on the brink of taking the opening set.

Jabeur fought back, breaking back in style by returning with a shot through her legs before landing a forehand winner.

Bencic saved five set points to force a tiebreak and then had two set points, but Jabeur saved both before claiming the opener at the sixth time of asking with another forehand.

The 28-year-old took control thereafter, establishing a double break early in the second to go 4-1 ahead.

But Bencic wouldn’t give up, taking one break back and earning three break points to almost complete the comeback, but Jabeur managed to hold off the Swiss by saving them all before taking her second match point opportunity.

“I figured at the end of the tie-break, the way you played, maybe it was meant to be for you this year,” Bencic said to Jabeur during the trophy presentation.

“You deserve it. I’m very glad you’re back, tennis is amazing with you. It’s a pain playing against you, but for tennis you are great.”

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