Saudi Gazette report

MANAMA — Yara Al-Haqbani, the rising Saudi tennis star, has become the champion in Bahrain’s J5 Isa Town International Tournament after defeating on Sunday Russia’s top-ranking Tamara Ermokova 6-2, 6-4.

She reached the final after beating the Israeli player Isabell Bilaus in the semi-final 6-1, 6-0 held on Saturday.

This is Al-Haqbani’s second achievement in the Bahrain International Tennis Championships. She, along with Britain’s Herstova, bagged gold in doubles after defeating Russian Ermokova and Israeli Maria in the final of the tournament.

Al-Haqbani, aged 18, is the first Saudi female tennis player to represent Saudi Arabia at the professional level. She has been registered at Al-Ittihad Club since 2018.

Al-Haqbani is the youngest tennis player in the Kingdom, as she was born in 2004. She became a professional tennis player at an early age and won important victories in international forums.