Egyptian tennis champion Mayar Sherif not only won the two recent international competitions, but also managed to make a huge leap in the world rankings from 40 to 31 within two weeks, an unprecedented achievement for Egyptian tennis.

With the wins, Sherif, 27, became the world’s highest ranked Egyptian tennis player in history, beating Ismail Al-Shafei, now president of the Egyptian Tennis Federation, who was ranked 34 on 8 April 1975.

Last week, Sherif emerged victorious at the WTA 125 Makarska Open in Croatia. Sherif defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini, her first WTA 125 win of the year, after earning three of those titles in the previous season.

The right-hander also won the Valencia Open on Sunday, defeating Marina Bassols Ribera of Spain 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

Sherif was the top seed in the Valencia Open, enjoying a dominant run to the final, not dropping any set in the entire tournament.

Sherif has been in spectacular form this year after reaching the second round of the French Open, then winning the Makarska Open.

In Croatia, Sherif beat Chilean Daniela Seguel (6-0, 6-1), Argentinian Maria Lourdes Carle (6-2, 6-1), American Ann Li (6-1, 6-2) and Argentinian Nadia Podoroska (6-1, 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In May, Sherif won her first match against one of the top five players in the world, Caroline Garcia, at the 2023 Madrid Open.

If Sherif continues her winning streak, she could break into the world’s top 20 for the first time in her career.

Following her second win in a row, Sherif took to her Facebook account. “A new milestone unlocked,” Sherif said. “So happy to win another title here at the BBVA Open Val! Thanks to you, my team, my family, my sponsors and my fans for all the support I received in the past two weeks.”

* A version of this article appears in print in the 22 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly