Ons Jabeur reached her first WTA Tour title of the season on Saturday after edging Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 7-5 in a rain-delayed semi-final at the Charleston Open.
Second seed Jabeur, who finished runner-up to Belinda Bencic on the green clay courts of South Carolina last year, said a rain delay of more than three hours proved advantageous in her victory over third seed Kasatkina.
But the second semi-final, between top-seeded American Jessica Pegula and fourth seed Bencic was also interrupted, and with heavy weather expected to linger, play was halted for the night with their match in a second-set tiebreaker.
Bencic had won the first set 7-5, but the second was level at 6-6 with Pegula up 4-2 in the tiebreak when the match was stopped as the light rain that had fallen through several games intensified.
Jabeur, runner-up last year at Wimbledon and the US Open, reached her first final of 2023 with her victory over Kasatkina.
But the world No 5, who was sidelined in February after knee surgery in the wake of the Australian Open, had to rally from two breaks down in the first set and a break down in the second.
On Sunday Jabeur be chasing her first title since a grass court triumph in Berlin last year.
As Jabeur struggled with her first serve Kasatkina raced to a 4-1 lead in the opening set, but the Tunisian broke the Russian as she served for the set at 5-2.
Jabeur was serving to extend the set at 5-3 when rain halted play for more than three hours, and she came out of the break strong. She saved two set points to hold and won 12 of the next 15 points to pocket the set.
"I have to thank the rain," Jabeur said, adding it gave her time to talk to her coach and "reflect on what happened in the first set".
"My game was there, I just needed to find something small," added Jabeur, who was broken to open the second set but gained a decisive break in the final game to finish it out.
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MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
HOW TO WATCH
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Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
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RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 3
Sadio Man 28'
Andrew Robertson 34'
Diogo Jota 88'
Arsenal 1
Lacazette 25'
Man of the match
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
