Mayar Sherif was destined to be the best in the world? Have you seen her agility, how she concentrates, and how she plays? Well, then you’re certainly missing out on true athletism. So, really it’s no surprise that Mayar Sherif is now the Egyptian tennis player with the best ranking in history.
Mayar Sherif reached her career-high 40th in the women’s singles world rankings, becoming Egypt’s highest-ranked female player.
Egyptian Tennis Federation lauded Sherif.
They labeled a photo of the 27-year-old player “a new record” with her personal statistics and a new classification.
Sherif improved after winning the Makarska Championship in Croatia on Sunday.
Last year, Sherif won the Parma Ladies Open, becoming the first Egyptian woman to win a professional women’s tournament.
History of Tennis in Egypt
Egypt’s tennis tradition dates back to the early 20th century. British colonials brought the sport to the country. Cairo and Alexandria were the first tennis clubs in Egypt, which immediately became popular.
Hussein Seif El Din won the 1924 Egyptian National Championships and represented Egypt in the Davis Cup. Youssef Wahba reached the French Open quarterfinals in 1934, and Mahmoud Estafan won the 1937 African Championships.
New clubs and national and international events helped tennis gain popularity in the mid-20th century. The Egyptian Tennis Federation was created in 1946, and the Egyptian International Championships attracted elite players from across the world.
Ismail El Shafei, ranked No. 18 in the world, reached the quarterfinals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 1974. El Shafei played in the 1976 Egyptian Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Egypt’s infrastructure and tennis funding has declined in recent years. Still, many players and fans support and promote the game.
Egypt has many tennis clubs, including the El Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo, which has held international events. Tennis remains a significant part of Egypt’s sporting tradition and attracts new players and fans despite its obstacles.
