Women’s World No.3 Nour El Tayeb prevailed on finals day at the 2018 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, beating New Zealand’s Joelle King to claim the sport’s most lucrative World Series title.
El Tayeb, the Cairo-born player who won her first World Series title at the U.S. Open earlier this season, had already endured three five-game matches, coming from 2-0 down in two of those to win, to reach the title-decider and once again showed her resilience to edge a tense five-game battle with King.
The 24-year-old came from 2-1 down and saved two championship balls to defeat World No.9 King 11-8, 10-12, 11-13, 11-9, 12-10 victory in 78 minutes and claim her share of a record $250,000 prize purse, equal that on offer in the men’s draw.
“I can’t believe it,” said El Tayeb following her second World Series title win.
“I felt like I lost this match three or four times! I was down in the fourth, then I was down in the fifth but looking over at Haitham [Effat] and Ali [Farag] – they gave me the encouragement, but I really can’t believe that I won the tournament.
“Everyday that I’ve woken up I’ve felt tired but I knew that I can do it. I don’t think I’ve ever only played five-setters in a tournament. I think I will have to give my physical fitness coach a very big bonus!”
Result – Women’s Final – 2018 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
[7] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [9] Joelle King (NZL) 3-2: 11-8, 10-12, 11-13, 11-9, 12-10 (78m)
