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Mayar Sherif closed out 2020 by clinching her biggest title to date at the $100k tournament in Charleston. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7QVBKSJPSMGP2GTHLK2WERMFPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=621d999902462a319bdaca2f35e9c75d254939ddddea75cda4bafcef85f3091f&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif during her match against Akiko Omae in the first round of Australian Open qualifying in Dubai. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKF2CSLECMIAPYGOHSR3Y2JXMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=716a0b3cedfa08068cd367118ee501d0fae3138f0e406917f8edc481d94c80a0&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif is into the main draw for the Australian Open after coming through qualifying in Dubai. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UTJGISXEGQLZ6FGBNS3QE2ZYUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a657cfa1cafa631e2b170d4c576a8f52eb3ff7db13163a00bfaf09f94303318d&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif has set her sights on a strong showing at the Tokyo Olympic. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3YGROV6KYQGLWGIXNAO2CEGRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=632377b0f16a9fd46c7db0db3d9d184140d9b44607e0deadf71e0d8ec9458ded&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif has seen her profile skyrocket in Egypt. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HTYGHDL2MZJET3FIQGNPR7HPVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e615a12e23e2a7fb8a5d4bcd0f959150aac2962eb287485ce3a6299d5a9d73a&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif became the first Egyptian woman to qualify for a main draw Grand Slam when she played at last year's French Open. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IRE4IEZPTSXRCEGHMFCSFEJO6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cca51be7dd6b82595e15a717dd779c302472bf122ea52b0c054121bd167fe25&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif took then world No 4 Karolina Pliskova to three sets in the French Open first round in her first appearance at a Grand Slam. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYGBQGQMEMWVQDI3UAE7LK53LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0573ac36261a203fb48b0df7c3c7d82c13f12dee585d93b53f3f851f5ddfaed8&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif and Mohamed Safwat will be the first players from Egypt to compete at an Olympics when they head to Tokyo. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAO7T33JHEENBG3HU7ZKPFCKGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=03f8fbce1f865b19b045a658f7a38dc86eac6eb1e0daf1be19bbee3e36a97db6&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif's coach, Justo Gonzalez, believes his player has the attitutde to handle the pressures of elite tennis. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YULE576SKQCY7EZ5LIOENBWDXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd2a1931bc36e0aa428b88dad53ddd95cccfa1374530fc1810305f60b614936e&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif closed out 2020 by clinching her biggest title to date at the $100k tournament in Charleston. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7QVBKSJPSMGP2GTHLK2WERMFPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=621d999902462a319bdaca2f35e9c75d254939ddddea75cda4bafcef85f3091f&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif during her match against Akiko Omae in the first round of Australian Open qualifying in Dubai. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKF2CSLECMIAPYGOHSR3Y2JXMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=716a0b3cedfa08068cd367118ee501d0fae3138f0e406917f8edc481d94c80a0&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif is into the main draw for the Australian Open after coming through qualifying in Dubai. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UTJGISXEGQLZ6FGBNS3QE2ZYUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a657cfa1cafa631e2b170d4c576a8f52eb3ff7db13163a00bfaf09f94303318d&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif has set her sights on a strong showing at the Tokyo Olympic. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3YGROV6KYQGLWGIXNAO2CEGRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=632377b0f16a9fd46c7db0db3d9d184140d9b44607e0deadf71e0d8ec9458ded&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif has seen her profile skyrocket in Egypt. Photo by Jorge Ferrari
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HTYGHDL2MZJET3FIQGNPR7HPVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e615a12e23e2a7fb8a5d4bcd0f959150aac2962eb287485ce3a6299d5a9d73a&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif became the first Egyptian woman to qualify for a main draw Grand Slam when she played at last year's French Open. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IRE4IEZPTSXRCEGHMFCSFEJO6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cca51be7dd6b82595e15a717dd779c302472bf122ea52b0c054121bd167fe25&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif took then world No 4 Karolina Pliskova to three sets in the French Open first round in her first appearance at a Grand Slam. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYGBQGQMEMWVQDI3UAE7LK53LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0573ac36261a203fb48b0df7c3c7d82c13f12dee585d93b53f3f851f5ddfaed8&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif and Mohamed Safwat will be the first players from Egypt to compete at an Olympics when they head to Tokyo. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAO7T33JHEENBG3HU7ZKPFCKGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=03f8fbce1f865b19b045a658f7a38dc86eac6eb1e0daf1be19bbee3e36a97db6&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif's coach, Justo Gonzalez, believes his player has the attitutde to handle the pressures of elite tennis. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YULE576SKQCY7EZ5LIOENBWDXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd2a1931bc36e0aa428b88dad53ddd95cccfa1374530fc1810305f60b614936e&width=400&height=225)
Mayar Sherif closed out 2020 by clinching her biggest title to date at the $100k tournament in Charleston. AFP
Olympic Dreams: Mayar Sherif – Egypt's tennis pioneer ready to make her mark at Tokyo Games and beyond
Exclusive interview: 'I’m trying as much as possible to reach the highest level possible until I get to the Olympics'
![Reem Abulleil](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe2595eef-b487-43f1-a017-7aac7fe28cbf.png?smart=true&auth=ff535a2a29498ad12ac588ea87d2745cea87f814a8bb1adcd298e53bd1ef941e&width=70&height=70)
Reem Abulleil
19 February, 2021
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